Today's arrivals? Tree Swallows! 3 pics

14 years ago

The new bird arrival for today is the "Tree Swallow".

They came zooming in this morning with great fan-fair and hysterical twittering (not the digital kind! LOL). They've checked out the bluebird and chickadee boxes, tried the back-yard gourd that is hanging in the maple tree on for size, irritated the martins and, in general, acted like Tree Swallows.

We're still trying to get three more nesting boxes up, so I'm sure they'll eventually settle down. "We" will make more progress when hubby gets off 13-hour shifts and finishes his Terrorist Awareness training.

I think the Cape May Warbler has left for the completion of his migration route. I've not seen him all day. It was so exciting to add a "new bird" to my list. He was such a delightful little visitor while he was here; I hope he comes back through in the fall.

It really may be "spring" now! Purple Martins, Baltimore Orioles, Hummingbirds, Rose-Breasted Grossbeaks, Harris Sparrows, and Tree Swallows! Today is the first day I've ventured outside without my fleece hoody on.

A pair of tree swallows on a nest box

And this is my photo of a Tree Swallow checking his nest in one of my smaller, natural gourds.

My first clutch of five Tree Swallow hatchings from 2006. They all fledged. TSs line their nest with feathers, lots of big, fluffy, preferably white, feathers.

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Comments (8)

glenda_al
14 years ago
Awesome!
Silverdove
14 years ago
We had tree swallows a few years ago in our bird house. They were so cute with their little helmet looking heads.
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sue_va
14 years ago
So that is what a Tree Swallow looks like. Very pretty.

I had heard so much about TS's taking over BB boxes that I thought they would have to be unattractive.

Thanks for educating me.

Sue
caroline94535
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi Sue,

There is a "Tree Swallow Protocol" which describes how to set two or three bluebird boxes in such a way (distance and angles) so that a pair of each, BBs and TSs, will nest near one another, and protect one another from intruders of their same species.

It's also used to get Tree Swallows, Blue Birdss, and Purple Martins to nest peacefully near (25-35 ft.) one another.

You may have to muddle through the site, but it's worth the effort. I'm including a link. It really does work.

In my case, I don't allow the TSs to nest in the PM rack. I will close off the gourd they want and move it about 30 feet away. If there are TSs nesting within 25-35 feet of the Purple Martin rack, they will not bother the martins, but they also won't allow any other TSs to come close.

TSs win; PMs win; Carol's happy.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tree Swallow Protocol for nesting birds
grammahony
14 years ago
Carol, I had a pair of TS checking out a BB box this weekend. Bluebirds are/have hatched. I had 4 BB eggs, and only 2 hatched. It's been so cold this spring, I'm suprised any hatched. I know there is another BB box I put up in the state park right next to our land, that had eggs. I didn't check it over the weekend, but I will this Saturday. Also, I've got 2 PM's checking in when I had to leave the cabin. I'm anxious to see how many are there this weekend when I get there.
Leslie
Leslie
grammahony
14 years ago
I forgot to say, I think they look like little Orca's looking out of their box.
mcmann
14 years ago
Caroline, I love reading about your birds and seeing the photos. I had my first Rose Breasted Grosbeak last year. He came for one day, gorged himself at the feeder and then left. I was so happy this year when he reappeared on Mother's Day and stayed for 2 days.

thanks for posting the photos.
grammahony
14 years ago
Sue, here's a positive point about when TS take over a Bluebird box. They only nest once per season. So, after they leave the box, clean it out, and it's ready for a Bluebird. Also, you can double up the nestboxes for both like Caroline said.
Leslie

Today's arrivals? Tree Swallows! 3 pics

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Today's arrivals? Tree Swallows! 3 pics

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