Visitors Flock to Mission for Swallows’ Return

Look, up in the sky, it’s a bird. Not just an ordinary bird, mind you, but one of hundreds of cliff swallows making their annual 5,000-mile migration from Goya, Argentina, to Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Despite an early morning rainfall, thousands of spectators visited the historic 218-year-old mission Saturday to catch a glimpse of the fleeting 5 1/2-inch birds, which were the stars of the St. Joseph’s Day celebrations.

The festivities began at 8:00 a.m. when town patriarch Paul Arbiso, who is 97, rang the mission’s “El Campanario” bell to signal the “first sighting” of the returning swallows. For the past 60 years, Arbiso has continued the tradition handed down to him by his father.

“This is something I waited a long time to see,” said Hank White, 71, a recently retired transit union president visiting the mission for the first time. “I’ve wanted to attend this event since I was 15 years old.”

White, who flew in from San Francisco for the weekend, said he was inspired in 1940 by the song “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano.”

It was sung Saturday by Raphael Rene, the son of late music composer Leon Rene, who may be best remembered for penning “Rockin’ Robin,” a popular Chubby Checker tune. Leon Rene wrote “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano” in 1939. “From the time I heard that song, I knew that someday I would go to San Juan Capistrano,” White said. “I’ve already seen several swallows this morning.”

Others in the crowd were eager to catch a glimpse of the mostly reddish-brown birds.

“I haven’t seen one yet, but I’m on the lookout,” said Matt Palmero, 31, from Tustin. “Isn’t that one over there?”

It wasn’t a swallow, but one of a few pigeons perched high atop a maze of support beams surrounding the mission’s main building, which is undergoing the first phase of a $20-million structural reinforcement.

Several television actors who attended the celebration helped raise money for the project by signing autographs.

They included Ana Alicia, formerly of “Falcon Crest,” Ted Lange, formerly of “Love Boat,” Susan Ruttan of “L.A. Law,” comedian Ruth Buzzi, and Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow, former stars of “Leave It to Beaver.”

“I’m having a great time out here--there is a lot of historical context behind this celebration,” Mathers said. “I jumped at the chance to be involved with this.”

During the day, several classes from the Mission School performed traditional Swallows Day dances. Flamenco and Aztec dancers also performed.

One class of third-graders, dressed in colorful parrot costumes, clucked in circles onstage in the mission patio as they performed the “El Pajarito” dance.

Before the construction of larger buildings in the city, thousands of swallows would migrate directly to the mission because it was the tallest building in a modestly developed area.

Now, experts say, because of an increase in population and commotion, only several hundred swallows rest their feathers downtown. After nesting is over for the summer, the swallows migrate to buildings with similar architecture and water canals in Goya. It is believed that they derived their name from their ability to feed in flight and scoop up mouthfuls of water as they skim lakes and streams.

In San Juan Capistrano, it is against the law to kill a swallow or destroy its nest.

Mayor Collene Campbell said she did not expect such a large turnout Saturday because of the rain.

“This is the first time that it has rained in 20 years,” she said. “It really tears at the heartstrings to see all these people out here experiencing the history together.”