Authors: Ben Ruhe
Date Submitted: November 30, 2003
Article Type: Journal

What is going on? When Rick Miller, of Silver City, New Mexico, flies a light-colored, 15-inch Chinese swallow kite at twilight he bought from master Chinese builder Chen Zhao Ji, he draws literally two dozen cliff swallows. They fly around the kite twittering and apparently feeding on insects. They do not attack the kite. The noise and motion of the live birds attract strollers who stand and watch. When Rick takes the kite down, the birds disperse. Now the puzzle. Rick bought another type of swallow kite from Mr. Chen, this one smaller and with black wings. It fails to attract a single live swallow. What is the difference? Rick can’t figure it out—–is it color, size, flight pattern, or what? Ha Yi Qi, of Beijing, one of China’s renowned kitemakers specializing in swallows, throws up his hands literally when asked about this attraction phenomenon. Could be anyone of several reasons, he says. “Maybe dozens,” he adds.

PDF Link: Journal Issue