Our weather has turned around, not normal temps yet but in the 60's so I believe those that were still alive yesterday will all make it. Glad you were able to assist yours Lisa, with only one parent it would make it alot harder. I really think in the case here that it was more the cold that killed them (highs 47-50...lows 30's-low 40's) then the starvation but it could have been a combination. I only say this because we didn't have a total loss. The ones that survived this 3 day cold wet spell were either the ones that were fully feathered (1 box) or those that were still being kept warm by the mom (4 boxes). Those that were inbetween (3 boxes)...too big to be sat on by mom and yet didn't have all their feathers yet were the ones that died. Maybe feeding them would have helped but with eight nestboxes of Swallows I wouldn't have known who needed help and who I might have put at a greater risk by opening the nestboxes, Sunday was the only non rainy day however it was misty and very very windy. However like all things this gives us better knowledge so if something like this were to happen again I could know who to try to help.

What did you use for a nestchange, did you buy something at the store? Just curious there would have been nothing here dry enough to use anyway but when I did pull the three nests out of the boxes that we lost there was only one that was wet, the other two were dry. Also what other instructions were you given, you said you followed them to a T but didn't explain them all. Did you use small waxworms, what did you use to give the worms to the swallows? How on earth did you open the box, hold an umbrella, feed the babies and be able to see what the heck you were doing at the same time? Usually I check the swallows nests with a mirror however yesterday when I was checking for the ones we lost I used a small step ladder to make sure I wouldn't miss anything. It sure must have been quite the task to feed your swallows but I commend you for trying to help them. Great job, I hope yours make it. Is the weather better there yet??

Donna

Dona sounds like you may be right that some of yours were lost to the cold. We have had the same weather as you, it either gets wors or better as it crosses lake Michigan I dont think we got down to 30s but did get to 40. The main problem here is there just are not any flying bugs out.It would have been hard enough for 2 parents to feed these six but 1 is going to be nearly impossible.I am afraid of losing the 1 remaining parent to exaustion I tried to get moths last nigt and there weren't any out. YIKES! I have always seen them feeding dragon flys but I have yet to see a single one so far this year. I had a BB nest from a lost clutch of eggs a few years back. Hubby helped with the switch. I stand on a stool to see in the box and just drop the worms in their little mouths,I am sure they would not gape like that if they were not very hungry . I have never been able to monitor them much because one or the other was always in the box. I guess I will feed them until they quit gaping for me or until they are to old to open the box. It's just nice to know that you CAN do something to help in extreme situations, I had always heard that you cant. It's sunny and getting to 60 today so theres hope for better bug hunting.

What a diference a warm sunny day makes. The babies would not gape for me and played dead as they should be doing. All 6 look good (yea for the runt)! The parent is there every few minutes instead of only 1or 2 x an hour so more bugs are out! I have seen 6 or so Swallows flying high above the house, is it possible they are helping??? The lone parent is chirping like they do when there is a pair, it did not before these other swallows showed up. I think these babies are going to be ok! YIPEEE. Other good news my Blues started building their second nesting in the cam box!