rationalskepticism.org

Oldskeptic wrote:
That’s curious, and not consistent with the facts. Let me remind you that the swallows arrive at the specific location in Capistrano on the 18th March precisely, every year, and leave on Oct 23rd. They must, therefore, have a GPS and a calendar built in somewhere. So

The cliff swallows don't nest at the Mission in Capistrano any longer because the environment changed.

You do admit that they arrive in Capistrano every year, I trust.

The miracle of the "Swallows" of Capistrano takes place each year at the Mission San Juan Capistano, on March 19th, St. Joseph's Day.

http://www.sanjuancapistrano.net/swallows/

So why don't you shove that down your earhole and see where it lands?

They didn't arrive precisely the same date every year nor leave Argentina on precisely the same date every year.

Perhaps headwinds etc may slow them down. But they do arrive, and have done so for the longest time. The tourists, of course, have driven them off. So nuts to your stupid point.

There are large populations of cliff swallows in lower South America that migrate back and forth, to and from the US south west.

Great. So what?

The cliff swallow nests wherever the environment is right. They are all over the place. On cliffs, under bridges, and yes, until the environment changed, under the eves at the mission in Capistrano.

Oh, so they do come to Capistrano. I never mentioned the word Mission. You did. And 'eaves' is the word you're looking for.

They follow a north/south migratory path that is determined by change of seasons and environment.

Don't talk such nonsense.

Only a certain number of birds can nest at any one place so they spread out. If a good place to nest is filled up they move on.

Well, I never. You sure about this profound biological fact?

Cliff swallows use preexisting nests if they can find them, explaining why cliff swallows used the mission at Capistrano, but there is no evidence or reason to believe that they use the same nest year after year, or the same nesting site.

Just in case you have trouble reading what I wrote: I said that they arrive on the 18th March every year (that article said the 19th) from Goya in Argentina. I made no comment about their nesting habits.

But I missed your explanation of how they a. find the place 7,800 miles away, and b. how they get the dates right. You were going to say? Yeah, Shtummmmm.

So effectively you support the fact that they come every year, and leave every year. That right? So how does your magical theory explain those facts? Oh, I know. 'OOHHHH_MMMMM mutations and natural selection'!!! That right?

Also Pacific golden plovers are wide spread across the far north of north America and Asia in summer and winters all over the fucking place, from south Asia to California. They go north in summer and south in winter.

Your ignorance screams loudly.

You did know, didn't you, that there are more than one species of golden plover? The Pacific (Pluvialis fulva which I was talking about), and the American (Pluvialis dominica), which is the one you're probably exhibiting your ignorance about.

The Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva), known as the Kolea in Hawaiian, is the most common of Hawai'i's migrant shorebirds, with birds wintering in large numbers in almost all types of available habitat, from coastal pastures and wetlands, to parks and gardens, to the high altitude slopes of Haleakala Crater. Most adult birds return from their Arctic nesting grounds in late July and August, with juveniles following in late September. Most birds then leave by early May, although a few remain throughout the summer. Those birds that decide to stay in Hawai'i throughout the summer months are usually first-year birds. Pacific Golden Plovers do not nest in Hawai'i.

http://www.birdinghawaii.co.uk/XPGPlover2.htm

So, you have misrepresented to species of migratory birds that you seem to no fuck all about, what's next? Oh yeah eels.

I'm happy that you have so correctly represented your ignorance for all to see. Well done.