Swallows Return to San Juan Capistrano Day 2025 is on Wednesday, March 19, 2025: Does Mission San Juan Capistrano still have swallows?
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 is Swallows Return to San Juan Capistrano Day 2025. Official Site for the Swallows Day Parade and the San Juan ... San Juan Capistrano Fiesta
Absolutely, the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano! Here is the story of the mystery:
The miracle of the "Swallows" of Capistrano takes place each year at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, on March 19th, St. Joseph's Day.
As the little birds wing their way back to the most famous Mission in California, the village of San Juan Capistrano takes on a fiesta air and the visitors from all parts of the world, and all walks of life, gather in great numbers to witness the "miracle" of the return of the swallows.
Each year the "Scout Swallows" precede the main flock by a few days and it seems to be their chief duty to clear the way for the main flock to arrive at the "Old Mission" of Capistrano.
With the arrival of early dawn on St. Joseph's Day, the little birds begin to arrive and begin rebuilding their mud nests, which are clinging to the ruins of the old stone church of San Juan Capistrano. The arches of the two story, high vaulted Chapel were left bare and exposed, as the roof collapsed during the earthquake of 1812.
This Chapel, said to be the largest and most ornate of any of the missions, now has a more humble destiny--that of housing the birds that St. Francis loved so well.
After the summer spent within the sheltered walls of the Old Mission in San Juan Capistrano, the swallows take flight again, and on the Day of San Juan, October 23, they leave after circling the Mission bidding farewell to the "JEWEL OF ALL MISSIONS" San Juan Capistrano, California.
One of the posters has it backwards!
Do swallows return to San Juan Mission in Capistrano, California each year on March 19 or is this legend?
It's true. There are other very predictable bird migrations, as well. For instance, there is the annual return of the buzzards in Hinckley, Ohio
Have the Swallows returned to San Juan Capistrano today?
YES. They Have.