We live in the country and each year a few barn swallows return to make their homes in the garden's bird houses. One particular male swallow has become quite comfortable in my presence over the years, often perching close by, chirping away....today he allowed me to touch him several times. Is this normal for them to become so tame and will his offspring return as well?

Do you have a barn or are there barns or farms around you? Barn Swallows are alot like TRES but they nest inside barns or garages or even attics as long as they can get in and out and find a nice ledge to make their nest. I have a few pairs around that go into the barn and just sit around. I know they use mud to build their nest on a ledge. I am sure they are attracted to water much like TRES and will help keep your mosquito population down. I have never witnessed them fighting or causing trouble with any other species of bird.

Gibby, there are RARE instances of TRES having a 2nd brood. I had a brood of 4 TRES that fledged and within a week or two another nest was started in the SAME box AGAIN wtih 4 eggs! They are now all hatched but still very young. However, I have so many TRES around here (sometimes 4 - 7) in a flock around my boxes. With bluebirds they are more territorial and seem to lay fewer eggs so there are (unfortunately) less of them than TRES. That's why I encourage others to pair their boxes or take them down if all you have is TRES. It's only doing more harm than good and the purpose behind our boxes is to increase bluebird population, Not necessarily TRES. TRES face the same problems but somehow there are many more of them than bluebirds. Yes, you should clean that nest out. With any successful fledge you want to remove an old nest. But TRES are so much messier than the blues and I mix some Clorox with water and spray down the usually-tarry walls. I find this not necessary with the blues. Sorry you missed it! I've never been able to witness TRES fledge. But I have seen blues almost every season take their 1st flight.

You might check to see if you have an Audubon Society branch in the area. I'm sure they would advise you on what to do at this point. If there isn't an office in the area you could call a more distant Audubon office. In the meantime, might the babies eat mealworms?(the ones people buy for their feeders). Also, I took care of some baby birds for a friend once (don't know how that happened) and I was instructed to give them chopped up pieces of cooked scrambled egg. They liked it. Also, you could try giving them water with a medicine dropper if you are concerned about the heat in the barn. I don't know much about birds but it sounds like something has happened to the parents. I would think that their being gone for four days is a bad sign. From what I've heard birds are generally very good parents. You are so goodhearted to take this on. I hope you can get some sound advice that will relieve you about this and resolve the babies' situation. Good luck -