I've had a TRES here since Saturday the 17th, in Central WI. Monday there were two but now we are back to one again. It isn't doing much house hunting yet, just hanging around. Will be the first year the Blues (that are house hunting already) will get their choice of nestboxes cause normally the TRES are here first. Lisa, I am messing with two friggin male HOSP, got one with the BB gun yesterday but I missed the other one this morning, feathers flew but he flew away just fine. Have the vanert set for him now as he was in a box just a bit ago. Ugh! Donna

They make the prettiest nests!

Tree Swallows do not eat seed or crumbs. They don't eat anything off the ground at all. They eat on the wing only...which is why when there are prolonged periods of rain (3+ days) they will either leave or die and their nestlings will die...they simply don't eat anything off the ground. Can you describe the birds exactly. The only time I have seen Tree Swallows on the ground was when they are nestbuilding and are picking up grasses.

The last couple years I had Bluebirds nesting in snags in the back yard (both snags have since fallen over). I cut way down on the food in the feeders, which I usually do anyway in the summer, because I didn't want to attract House Sparrows. Would put out a little BOSS, but only put out the home-made suet nuggets if the Bluebirds wanted some. This Spring, I had a pair of Baltimore Orioles nesting in a large Pin Oak right above the feeders. Did the same thing, cut down on the food in the feeders, because the Orioles were very territorial about the tree. They were especially aggressive towards Blue Jays, Grackles, and Crows so I stopped throwing any tidbits on the ground (like old corn chips, which the Jays and Crows like). So I would favor the security of the nesting birds. During the summer and fall, there are normally abundant natural sources of food, so feeders are not critical. Birds eat a lot of insects and feed their young insects, so they are unlikely to starve if you aren't feeding them.