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Barn Swallow Migration Question

15 years ago

Our resident barn swallows seem to have all left, except for one. The others have been gone for days, but this little guy/gal is still hanging around. S/he seems healthy, is flying and complains when we open the front door and disturb him. We've had swallows nest under the roof in our entry way for 8 years, and they always seem to leave together. We've never had one "left behind" before and I am concerned. So I am wondering about their migration patterns, do they usually all leave together, and does anyone else here have any stragglers?

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Comments (6)

rachel_frome_ky
15 years ago
Some do hang around longer than others and even return to the nest, but I supposed something could be wrong also. Once the parents stop feeding it, it will probably leave.
User
Original Author
15 years ago
Rachel, I meant they all seem to have left on their migration to South America, except for one who is still hanging around. S/he is grown, probably from the last clutch of offspring for this year. They left the nest weeks ago, but came back at night off and on. Now, everyone else seems to have flown south, except for this one. S/he is roosting on the nest alone again tonight, poor little thing.
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Thanks Lisa, I like the thought of the little birds hanging out with their cousins from the barn nest who are their seniors by approx. a week. I imagine the single parent bird did have his wings full trying to round up his whole brood each night, and probably the first two nights were enough to ensure their safety. He or she is probably in need of a rest at this point. I hope the severe rainstorms did not endanger the swallows. If by "baby" you mean my cat, I did as always and kept her in during the hazardous fledging period, but she's in and out now. She's not having much luck hunting though; only a few rodents turning up on the porch. I think the rain this past week has halted/slowed the activities of all life forms.
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spedigrees z4VT
15 years ago
I hope your single abandoned swallow is alright.

One thing I noticed this summer is that our barn swallows embarked early on their migration. I think it was two weeks ago now, or more, since our resident swallows disappeared. A short time later a collection of a dozen or so swallows appeared on the utility wire, probably Canadian birds on their way south. They were gone the next day. I miss the little bug eaters swooping over our field. I hope their early departure is not foretelling a really severe or early Vermont winter.
lisa11310
15 years ago
They are still here in Michigan, Im sure there will be some migraters come through yet for yours to join.
agdirector
14 years ago
"One thing I noticed this summer is that our barn swallows embarked early on their migration."

They did the same thing this year, maybe left 3 weeks earlier. And Left a mess. They seemed to make bigger nests, used allot more mud and dropped so much more below the nests.

I do have to admit I love at how graceful they are in flight and it is so fun to watch them learn how to fly from the balcony. The parents are so encouraging to the young birds when they are training them how to fly.

Here is a link that might be useful: Alpiste Canary Bird Seed
HU-641929342
3 years ago
Our barn swallows left a few days ago-mid August, but one lone swallow has returned

i am worried for him. is this a common situation?

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