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As the sun rises on the restful suburbia of Port Elizabeth in the eastern Cape,

the day has finally arrived for this family of swallows to begin their journey back home to Britain.

They greet one another with cheerful bird song, confirming that today was indeed the day

that they would make their departure. The younger birds are feeling a little nervous.

For the flight over to the southern hemisphere several months prior had its challenges.

Varied weather conditions, numerous obstacles, and some larger birds that were a tad frightening.

However, they were bigger, stronger, and more wildly now.

The senior birds had reassured them that, though this flight would require hard work,

they ought to feel confident and excited, for they were so privileged to have their wings,

and to be embarking on such a glorious journey.

Communicating across two or three rooftops, the senior birds give a high-pitched cry to signal

that it is time to take flight. With this the flock sweep into the sky, swiftly grouping into a

close-knit triangular formation, and with their remarkable intuition, they begin heading north across Africa.

Feeling the cool gentle updraft from the south Atlantic behind them, the swallows stretch their wings

far and wide, fluffing out their feathers as they soar into the pinkish morning sky.

The sun was two-thirds visible above the horizon, warming the off-white chests of the little birds.

As their altitude increased, the temperature of the air became cooler.

...