Busy Builders: Swallow Family Nest

Fun Fact

Did you know that swallows are incredible architects? They build their cup-shaped nests using hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of tiny mud pellets mixed with straw and grass, all glued together with their sticky saliva! It's a true labor of love to create a safe home for their babies.

Coloring Tips

1. 1🎨 **Feathered Friends** - Use shades of blue, black, and rust for the swallows' feathers, paying attention to the subtle color shifts and sheen.
2. 2🖍️ **Muddy Marvel** - For the nest, try layering browns, grays, and even a touch of dark green or black to give it a realistic, textured mud-and-straw appearance.
3. 3✨ **Background Details** - The wooden beam or brick wall offers a chance to add texture. Use different shades of brown for wood grain or various reds and oranges for bricks, highlighting cracks and mortar lines.
4. 4🌈 **Tiny Twig Textures** - The straw and twig pieces held by the swallows can be colored with light yellows, tans, and browns to make them stand out from the mud of the nest.