Barn Swallows play with Max!!

Max has made some new friends down at the field near our apartment.  But it's not what you think.  Max has been playing with barn swallows!   I'm not kidding!  These little low flying birds have taken a liking to our little mad-man.  When we take Max out to the field to play there are normally 3-5 barn swallows flying around the field.  They start flying close to us, swooping down near the grass close to Max.  He of course, being the shepherd that he is, instinctually wants to chase them.  So he starts running full speed after these little swallows.  Now the swallows don't seem scared at all...they fly dangerously close to him swirling back and forth, up and down...all over the field.  Max loves it!  He barks and runs after them with all his might!  He seriously plays harder with those little birds then he will with any dog or person.  Yesterday, he literally ran around for over 20 minutes...I bet he ran at least 2 miles in circles around that field.  And the best part, the birds don't leave the field.  At first I was nervous that Max would follow those birds right down the street, but for some reason the birds just stay on the grass.  It seriously is the cutest thing.  Now when we go out there, Max could care less if we throw a ball for him...he just wants to play with the barn swallows!  Ha ha!