To me, watching a hornet lay down a fresh stripe of chewed wood pulp rates right up there with spiders doing their web chores every evening and cicadas emerging: it's something that takes an incredibly long time to observe but so totally engrossing that time almost seems suspended. I have always found the nests fascinating, despite the fact that they are seldom at an elevation for easy viewing. I have found four very large and complete ones in my life; the others were simply the tattered remains of those that had weathered a hard winter or caught the eye of someone less appreciative of their engineering. Two years ago I noticed a large number of hornets visiting our old wooden pumphouse, a relic of the days before we had city water and a bonanza of good building material. I tried and tried to follow each successive hornet deeper into the woods to find out where they were all headed ( I hear this is an old settler's trick for locating a bee tree)but I eventually lost them. It was not until late that winter when all the leaves were long gone that I found it, high in the top of a spindly tree---elm, I think it was. The wind had whipped the tree tops all around and the nest was slowly being peeled of its layers. Every so often a hike in that direction would turn up another section of nest. I wonder if the insects do a good job of repair when it happens ear;y in the year? I will have to check out your link, jillhudock. I suspect there might be some good reading there. I do know, however, that I did rob some creatures of a possible resource by bringing it inside: I have noticed wrens roosting in the holes of winter nests so they do provide shelter (wouldn't be surprised to find lady bugs and other overwintering creatures tucked in the crevices as well) and I will bet you my best hiking boots that those wrens, as well as woodpeckers and nuthatches and so on would do their best to get at these tasty sleepers when the snows blow and calories are scarce.

Well these barn swallows have been re-furbishing this same nest on our porch year after year. There really is no other location on the porch or nearby that would be practical or safe for the swallows to nest. This southwestern corner is under the eaves above our steep staircase, high up and inaccessible to predators. I don't know for sure they are the *same* two swallows year after year, but there is only the one nest. Meanwhile Mrs Finch is sitting on the nest and occasionally perching on the edge to turn her eggs. I imagine Mr Finch takes over nest sitting duties, although I haven't witnessed the changing of the guards. I do see him sometimes land on the ledge and sometimes in the little crabapple tree nearby. It is totally strange to see the pair of barn swallows arriving at dusk to spend each night perched next to the nest. I wonder if one or both could be last year's barn swallow babies.

Research conducted in Maryland revealed that House sparrows reduced the fledgling success rate of a Barn swallow colony by 45%. However, since House sparrows aren't the best fliers, then I think if you placed your nest cup high, like this, it could work : http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/per/sn730.jpg Perhaps using a modified version of the sparrow spooker (http://www.sialis.org/sparrowspooker.htm). You can also use monofilament or hobby wire, and tighten it (tie and weight it) , and hang them from the roof to the sides of the nests could work, although it can be brought inside the nest and possibly choke the young..etc

This has been a very strange nesting year. Normally, we have both bluebirds and tree swallows occupying a single house most of the season. This year, they have come and gone and have been replaced w/other tenants. If they are like my tree swallows, they are not bothered at all by human activity. I even inspect their nests occasionally, and it doesn't seem to bother them. In fact, owners of martin houses are encouraged to frequently inspect the hatchlings for mites and other issues. Additionally, I've have many encounters w/barn swallows while fishing under bridges. They could care less about my presence. Right now, I've got a Carolina wren who took over my bat house. The bat house blew down in a storm, breaking off part of the top. I put it on its side on a table next to a big woodpile to fix, but that wren decided to nest in it before I could get the roof back on. He also is not too concerned w/my proximity. I'll wait until its done, I guess. Regardless of the strange year, I must say it has been a very successful nesting year, judging by all the juveniles. I don't ever recall seeing so many.