We built a shelf under our porch overhang for barn swallows. We have seen one one checking it out several times but he has never spent the night. Do they settle down in one place before they are ready to nest or do they roam?
Kelly
A question about Barnies....
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TreeGreenwood
- Posts: 362
- Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 9:27 pm
- Location: Virginia/Catlett
Kelly, your Barnies won't spend the night on a shelf. Their nest will probably be almost complete before a bird spends the night. You can learn a lot at http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/per/b4.htm in addition to the usual bird ID sites.
Take care,
Tree
Take care,
Tree
They won't spend the night until their nest is complete. And even then, only the female stays the night in the nest. The male is usually perched close by. At least that is what happens on my front porch. My barnie has five nestlings in an artificial nestcup. She and her mate are very good parents. 
Jeanne
Jeanne
"Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap, yet your heavenly Father feeds them."
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Sharon - Central TX
- Posts: 696
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- Martin Colony History: All Troyer Horizontal Gourds with Conley Entrances
PMCA Member since 2004
Normally my barnies stay closeby right before or during nest building. They usually spend the night sometimes hanging onto the side of the stone or on a ledge over one of our windows. One of them started spending the night once the nest had enough of a ledge. Now it is complete and both are spending the night on top of nest. When babies are born, only Mom will be in the nest.
That's the way it works at our house (LOL).
Sharon
That's the way it works at our house (LOL).
Sharon
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apundt-TX
- Posts: 986
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- Martin Colony History: :
2022-1 pair
1 pair 2021
2020- Didn't get setup fast enough in Pflugerville
2019- Apartment
2018 Divorce lost Colony in Dripping Springs
19 pair 2017
17 pair 2015
12 pair 2014
8 pair 2013
5 pair 2012
2 pair 2011
Mine sat on the ledge too just as Sharon explained. Right now the all almost done with their nest. Lots of poop on the column under their nest and on the floor below.
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Sharon - Central TX
- Posts: 696
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PMCA Member since 2004
A.P.,
I put a layer of newspapers on the brick floor where the birds poop. I weight them down with some rocks and when the top layer gets really yukky, I just take it off and throw away. Viola, a clean sheet underneath! Saves water by not having to hose the brick walway off all the time.
Sharon
I put a layer of newspapers on the brick floor where the birds poop. I weight them down with some rocks and when the top layer gets really yukky, I just take it off and throw away. Viola, a clean sheet underneath! Saves water by not having to hose the brick walway off all the time.
Sharon
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Guest
Tree, Sharon, Jeanne, & A.P.,
Thanks for the info. That is good news.
I think they have decided to nest there because today I was invading the porch space washing windows and had some protest from a barnie.
Kelly
Thanks for the info. That is good news.
I think they have decided to nest there because today I was invading the porch space washing windows and had some protest from a barnie.
Kelly
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Guest
Kelly:
Barn swallows are also very enjoyable birds to have around. I've had them for at least seven years now, and they also can get used to your presence, but maybe not a closely as the martins.
I've added a couple of perches for them under the lean-to where they nest. One swings and the other is stationary. They use them all the time. My barnies have always built mud nests from scratch up against the roof rafter of the lean-to, so I don't provide them with a shelf. In years past, any old nest I've left attached is not used, they would instead build on the next rafter over. Now I always remove the nest long after they've left and they rebuild in the same spot every year.
Enjoy them...
- Steve
Barn swallows are also very enjoyable birds to have around. I've had them for at least seven years now, and they also can get used to your presence, but maybe not a closely as the martins.
I've added a couple of perches for them under the lean-to where they nest. One swings and the other is stationary. They use them all the time. My barnies have always built mud nests from scratch up against the roof rafter of the lean-to, so I don't provide them with a shelf. In years past, any old nest I've left attached is not used, they would instead build on the next rafter over. Now I always remove the nest long after they've left and they rebuild in the same spot every year.
Enjoy them...
- Steve
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Sharon - Central TX
- Posts: 696
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- Martin Colony History: All Troyer Horizontal Gourds with Conley Entrances
PMCA Member since 2004
We removed the nests for the first time after the birds left last year. They had used the same one three times and I was concerned it was full of mites. Of the two places they had built on our porch, we favored one because it was away from the entrance, a perfect place for them and for us to still enjoy them through the top window that looked out to where they were.
They returned this year and started building in "our" favored spot. After hearing so much about the man made nesting cups we purchased one and I asked hubby to quick put it up where they had just begun building. He did (he is such a good guy to cater to all my whims) and when the birds came back, they just looked at it with disdain and said "no way". They went over to the other nest area, the one closer to the front door (and which we had also removed but didn't replace with a nest cup) and proceeded to build there.
Lesson learned: Sometimes it is best not to mess with Mother Nature ;-).
Next year they can pick their own spot the first time around which I hope will also be our preferred spot.
Sharon
They returned this year and started building in "our" favored spot. After hearing so much about the man made nesting cups we purchased one and I asked hubby to quick put it up where they had just begun building. He did (he is such a good guy to cater to all my whims) and when the birds came back, they just looked at it with disdain and said "no way". They went over to the other nest area, the one closer to the front door (and which we had also removed but didn't replace with a nest cup) and proceeded to build there.
Lesson learned: Sometimes it is best not to mess with Mother Nature ;-).
Next year they can pick their own spot the first time around which I hope will also be our preferred spot.
Sharon
Sharon,
Concerning the mites, using the nestcup is definitely a help with that as it is easy to remove the old nesting material after the first brood AND it is much easier for them to rebuild in a nestcup.
I learned a hard lesson last year about mites. Even though I changed out the old nest material after the first brood (by the way - they started their new nest immediately the same day I changed out the old one) they lost their entire second brood to mites. I was away for a time and when I came back two of the babies were on the ground and the other two were dead in the nest with mites crawling all over them. It was awful. I changed out the nesting material but the parents would only hover and would not feed the two babies that were still alive. I don't know if they just didn't want to enter the nest because of fear of mites or if the change I made was too much for them. It was very sad and I lost many nights sleep over it.
So, this year, I placed a small amount of Sevin under a tiny bit of nestling material I placed in the nestcup. I am hoping that this solves the problem. If I were you, after the first brood fledges, I would try to place a little sevin under their existing nest if you don't want to remove it.
Jeanne
Concerning the mites, using the nestcup is definitely a help with that as it is easy to remove the old nesting material after the first brood AND it is much easier for them to rebuild in a nestcup.
I learned a hard lesson last year about mites. Even though I changed out the old nest material after the first brood (by the way - they started their new nest immediately the same day I changed out the old one) they lost their entire second brood to mites. I was away for a time and when I came back two of the babies were on the ground and the other two were dead in the nest with mites crawling all over them. It was awful. I changed out the nesting material but the parents would only hover and would not feed the two babies that were still alive. I don't know if they just didn't want to enter the nest because of fear of mites or if the change I made was too much for them. It was very sad and I lost many nights sleep over it.
So, this year, I placed a small amount of Sevin under a tiny bit of nestling material I placed in the nestcup. I am hoping that this solves the problem. If I were you, after the first brood fledges, I would try to place a little sevin under their existing nest if you don't want to remove it.
Jeanne
"Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap, yet your heavenly Father feeds them."
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Sharon - Central TX
- Posts: 696
- Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 9:20 pm
- Location: Central TX
- Martin Colony History: All Troyer Horizontal Gourds with Conley Entrances
PMCA Member since 2004
Jeanne,
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of the babies to mites. So far we haven't had a problem, all of the babies have thrived and fledged. But that's not to say it couldn't happen.
I like your idea about the Sevin (although I know a lot of people don't agree) but we have had good luck using it under the martin's nesting material. In fact this year we prepared it ahead of time and sprayed the liquid on the nesting material and let it dry thoroughly before placing it in the compartments. In the past we have used the powder and placed it under the nest material.
I know the nest cup would definitely be cleaner but if they won't use it there is nothing more I can do. One thing we will definitely do is keep removing the nests when the birds leave once the season ends. They sure do work hard to build their nests and it takes them such a long time. But that is what they do and they don't have to go very far to get mud and stuff since our property backs up to a lake. We have a lot of mud to go around (LOL).
Sharon
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of the babies to mites. So far we haven't had a problem, all of the babies have thrived and fledged. But that's not to say it couldn't happen.
I like your idea about the Sevin (although I know a lot of people don't agree) but we have had good luck using it under the martin's nesting material. In fact this year we prepared it ahead of time and sprayed the liquid on the nesting material and let it dry thoroughly before placing it in the compartments. In the past we have used the powder and placed it under the nest material.
I know the nest cup would definitely be cleaner but if they won't use it there is nothing more I can do. One thing we will definitely do is keep removing the nests when the birds leave once the season ends. They sure do work hard to build their nests and it takes them such a long time. But that is what they do and they don't have to go very far to get mud and stuff since our property backs up to a lake. We have a lot of mud to go around (LOL).
Sharon
Here is a photo that I took this morning of our Barnswallow nestlings. I had to use a mirror to take the pictures because the nestcup is so close to the ceiling of our porch. Five nestlings are in this nestcup. It is going to get VERY crowded, VERY soon.
"Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap, yet your heavenly Father feeds them."
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Guest
Great photo. Mine also build the nest so close to the ceiling that I can't take pictures until the nestlings are sitting up. I'd like to get some photos earlier...
- Steve
- Steve
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Guest
Thank you all for the information!
Steve,
A swinging perch like in a parakeet cage???
Jeanne,
Thanks for the pics! I hope we have some this year.
Kelly
Steve,
A swinging perch like in a parakeet cage???
Jeanne,
Thanks for the pics! I hope we have some this year.
Kelly
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Guest
Kelly:
Yup, I used a piece of approx 1/4" dia. bamboo I had around, and simply tied it up with string. They love it, and it's fun to watch them on it. For this season, I added a stationary bamboo perch too. We'll see which one they like better.
Check it out (couldn't resist a couple of extra pics - enjoy!):
Perch:
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92 ... gperch.jpg
Close-up:
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92 ... loseup.jpg
First brood - it's shoulder-to-shoulder!
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92 ... ednest.jpg
Even the babies liked it! But wait, where's baby #5?
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92 ... gperch.jpg
I'm down here, guys!
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92 ... wnhere.jpg
- Steve
Yup, I used a piece of approx 1/4" dia. bamboo I had around, and simply tied it up with string. They love it, and it's fun to watch them on it. For this season, I added a stationary bamboo perch too. We'll see which one they like better.
Check it out (couldn't resist a couple of extra pics - enjoy!):
Perch:
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92 ... gperch.jpg
Close-up:
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92 ... loseup.jpg
First brood - it's shoulder-to-shoulder!
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92 ... ednest.jpg
Even the babies liked it! But wait, where's baby #5?
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92 ... gperch.jpg
I'm down here, guys!
http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92 ... wnhere.jpg
- Steve
Last edited by Guest on Mon Jun 23, 2008 11:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Guest
Thanks for the compliment, Jeanne. I figure, if I like to have them around, why not have them around some more? The perches give them a place to hang out close by, and I get to sit out there on some days, while they're there chit-chatting to each other. It's great. When I put the perches up last season, I couldn't believe it had taken me all those years to think of such a simple thing (really a DUH moment).
Barn swallows are great...
- Steve
Barn swallows are great...
- Steve