Swallows Returning to Japanese Garden

Forget San Juan Capistrano. It seems the swallows have.

This year, possibly because of construction near the mission sites where the migrating birds usually nest, hundreds of swallows have set up housekeeping at the Japanese Garden in Van Nuys.

Sherman Oaks residents Vicki Fenton, Helen Fruchtman and Bobby Gray were among the first of about 500 visitors to spot the small birds Sunday at the garden’s third annual Swallow’s Day.

“They’re so cute,” said Fenton, as she pointed to a pair of swallows flying across a pond.

The swallows have established about 60 nests in the underside of the administration building at the Japanese Garden, a stark contrast to the rustic Mission San Juan Capistrano.

“It works for them,” said Carolyn Oppenheimer, executive board member of the San Fernando Valley Audubon Society, which helped the Bureau of Sanitation of the Department of Public Works organize the event.

Oppenheimer said the swallows congregate at the Japanese Garden because the ceilings of concrete buildings are ideal nesting sites, an abundance of food--worms and insects--is available at the nearby Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Area and plenty of mud left over from El Nino is on hand to build their nests.

The construction in San Juan Capistrano also is a factor.

“I believe there are more swallows here than there are in San Juan Capistrano,” said Bureau of Sanitation Plant Manager Robert W. Birk. “That city is going through reconstruction right now, and that disrupts their nests.”

Birk said about 200 swallows have made the garden their summer residence.

As a safety precaution to visitors, the bureau installed screens directly over walkways. “One of those nests will fall periodically, and we don’t want them falling on people’s heads,” Birk said.

Tours of the garden begin at 9:30, 10 and 10:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and Saturdays. Sunset tours will be conducted on weekdays through the summer from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.