The rock martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula) is a small swallow that is resident in central and southern Africa. It breeds in the mountains, and at lower levels in rocky areas and towns. It has mainly brown plumage and white "windows" on the spread tail. Its call is a soft twitter. The sexes are similar in appearance. The martin hunts along cliff faces for flying insects. It breeds under cliff overhangs or on man-made structures using mud pellets to build a bowl or half-bowl nest with a soft lining. The bird is a solitary breeder, but small groups may nest close together in suitable locations. A typical clutch has two to three eggs, which are white with brown and grey blotches. Both adults incubate the eggs for 16–19 days and feed the chicks. Fledging takes another 22–24 days. The small martin is caught in flight by several falcons, such as hobbies, but it faces no major threats. Because of its extensive range and large stable population, it is assessed as a least- concern species on the IUCN Red List. (This article is part of a featured topic: Crag martins.).

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Featured_topics/Crag_martins

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1846:

The first officially recorded baseball game in U.S. history using modern rules was played in Hoboken, New Jersey, with the "New York Nine" defeating the New York Knickerbockers 23–1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball

1921:

A group of Black and Tans burned down the village of Knockcroghery, Ireland, as an act of vengeance for the killing of a British general two days earlier. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knockcroghery

1965:

Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, the head of the South Vietnam Air Force, was appointed prime minister at the head of a military regime, ending two years of short-lived military juntas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nguy%E1%BB%85n_Cao_K%E1%BB%B3

2006:

The ceremonial "first stone" of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a facility established to preserve a wide variety of plant seeds from locations worldwide in an underground cavern in Spitsbergen, Norway, was laid. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svalbard_Global_Seed_Vault

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

Juneteenth: (US) Also more fully as Juneteenth Day: a holiday celebrated in many states of the United States of America on June 19, commemorating the end of slavery. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Juneteenth

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.   --Gordon Granger https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Gordon_Granger