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Barn Swallow...slow progress?

Konrad___far_north

12 years ago

Hi all!
The first time I have a pair building a nest in my unfinished root cellar,..figured I let them have a brood before finishing off this year. How long do you think I'll have to wait.
Hopefully they get their wish and next year when they return they can build on the extension, ..not into the cellar, if I have enough time?

June 23,

July 13, .. looks like they have to wait until dry enough?

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Comments (7)

tmc2009
12 years ago
Seems kind of late in the season. If they haven't even finished the nest yet it would be hard to say when the eggs get laid. If it's the barn swallow, I found this information
Nesting Facts

Clutch Size
3-7 eggs
Number of Broods
1-2 broods
Egg Length
0.6-0.8 in
1.6-2.1 cm
Egg Width
0.5-0.6 in
1.2-1.5 cm
Incubation Period
12-17 days
Nestling Period
15-27 days
Egg Description
Creamy or pinkish white, spotted with brown, lavender, and gray.
Condition at Hatching
Eyes closed, naked except for sparse tufts of pale gray down.
Konrad___far_north
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you tmc2009,
I still don't know what's really going on,...I could be seeing activity, flying in and out 2 or 3 times within about a 15 min. period, then nothing for an hour or more. I don't want to go in now, ...I'll know when feeding is on with high activity, it's still a possibility.

Here the male..
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Thank you all for your compliments--I'm so happy that you appreciate my kitchen, and I am very touched by your kindness. Since I love spreading the DIY news, I'll share some info one the cup-shelf project: I've mentioned using scrap lumber, left over from other projects--everything was scrap! I ripped the shelf and support pieces from a 1x12 board, and used a 1/4" cove bit in the router, to trim the bottom edge of the support piece. The towel holder corbels and spice shelf are attached to support pieces, which are screwed into the wall studs, parallel to the counter. The pieces are all connected. All the screw holes were countersunk and filled. Here's a close-up showing how everything fits together: The shelf sits on top of, and is screwed into, the long support piece, and there's a screw that goes through the corbel into the shelf, toward the front. LOL, at this distance you can see the seam where the two corbel pieces are joined. Oh, well, it adds character ;). The corbels are cut on the same upper curve as the supports for the old school cabinet, across the room. They're 1.5" wide, compared to 3 inches on the school cabinets. This pic is of the underside of the corner, with a scarf/miter joint. Each piece is cut on 45 degrees, then fitted together and nailed, making a stronger joint than a butted joint. It's actually backwards, because my miter saw 'reclines' in only one direction, and I didn't want to cut the angles by hand. One could also use a biscuit/slot to add strength. This is the support for the towel holder: The corbels are attached to either side of the 'placket', which is screwed into studs. The window used to be wider, so there's an extra stud in that area. The corbels were then attached to the cabinets. The underside of a cabinet, showing how the corbel is attached--you can see the screw holes: Hope this helps!
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brookw_gw
12 years ago
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.
Konrad___far_north
Original Author
12 years ago
Great to hear for a good year!
Looks like it will turn out alright, regular in and out feeding traffic now!
And my first Purple Martin pair raised a family,... after two years trying, just fledged!
brookw_gw
12 years ago
Congrats on getting martins. I've tried for the last 4 years now and can't get them to stay--even tho' I work to keep the sparrows out. They visit and inspect frequently but don't occupy. There are so many trees where I'm at. I'm considering moving the site to the pond dam where it's a little more open.
Konrad___far_north
Original Author
12 years ago
Yes, that might work, keep on trying, make sure to put the house up high. All have fledged here, one's in a while the family, [both] returning and checking things out, perhaps for memorizing next year's visit. I'm thrilled for 2 new species this year, making it 3 total with the tree swallows. When the tree swallows have fledged, they're gone for good, a little disappointing,..but, they're early in spring!
Konrad___far_north
Original Author
12 years ago
Towards evening today a couple went into the root cellar again,
not sure what this means, I'm new to this species,.. any idea?
I'm pretty sure nesting is over this late in the season,..do they roost?

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