Are you ready for summer? We certainly are, and our new Bank Swallow Stamped Envelope—which was just issued today—proves it.
The bank swallow (Riparia riparia) is the smallest swallow in North America. A slender bird about five inches long, it digs nesting burrows in riverbanks, gravel pits, and even highway cuts. Both males and females help dig the tunnel, first pecking out a shallow hole with their beaks, then using their feet to kick out the dirt. A sandbank riddled with holes, especially one near a river or lake, is likely to be the home of a colony of bank swallows.
An old proverb states, “one swallow doesn’t make a summer.” But when summer is in full swing, almost anywhere in the world, swallows can be seen darting and gliding through the air, doing what they do best: hunting insects on the wing. As the proverb makes clear, their long association with people makes them a watched-for backyard bird.
The Bank Swallow Forever® stamped envelope is being issued in a variety of formats. Its postage will always be equal to the value of the First-Class Mail one-ounce rate in effect at the time of use, even if the rate increases after purchase. To order, please visit usps.com/stamps and search for “Bank Swallow.”
