any cliff swallow 'landlords' out there?

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Brad-AL
Posts: 566
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 2:00 pm
Location: North AL

Does anyone know the smallest diameter hole that a Cliff Swallow can enter? Those Canadian Cliff Swallow houses have 2" holes. No way I can use that. I'd have Starlings nesting in one before I got finished hanging them.
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jeffwilliams72
Posts: 267
Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:22 am
Location: Indiana/Carthage

Yeah Brad, I was thinking that also, maybe some of that construction adhesive with an SREH cap?
There's not a wealth of information on the other swallow species,like there is for martins.
Think how you good you would have to be with your air-rifle to get the starling, and not break the clay cliffie house!!!
2008/1st pair/ 4 fledged
2009-2010 visitors only
2011/2 pr/9 eggs/8 fledged
2012/9pr/33 fledged
2013/27pr/101 fledged
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RC Moser
Posts: 1546
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2003 3:25 am

I know on east side of downtown choctaw OK., NE23rd street bridge there is a hugh cliff swallow colony on the north side of the bridge. maybe 100 pairs. I grit my teeth every time I'm over there and see ES in them. I want to go over and shoot them but don't want to get arested. there is an opon field where the city has rundown soccer fields on the north side and cow pasture on the south side.
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Brad-AL
Posts: 566
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 2:00 pm
Location: North AL

Jeff, I looked last night and all the info I could find said that they sometimes built entrance holes as small as 1 3/4" I'm pretty sure a Starling could still get into a 1 3/4" round hole, so a SREH would be the only choice I suppose.
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jeffwilliams72
Posts: 267
Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:22 am
Location: Indiana/Carthage

Brad,
You could use an SREH, and use a marker to make the hole "appear"
normal to the birds from a distance, but on closer inspection, only the Cliff Swallow can enter. Maybe it would work?
2008/1st pair/ 4 fledged
2009-2010 visitors only
2011/2 pr/9 eggs/8 fledged
2012/9pr/33 fledged
2013/27pr/101 fledged
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Brad-AL
Posts: 566
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 2:00 pm
Location: North AL

Yes, that might help. Surely a Cliff Swallow would have no problems entering one since Martins can. I'll probably use a crescent hole on mine.
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JJ Jones
Posts: 120
Joined: Thu Nov 20, 2003 11:08 am
Location: Shelbyville, Indiana
Martin Colony History: Average (100) pairs per season

I have seen many on the bottom side of bridges along the Ohio River between Aurora, IN and Cincinnati, OH area.
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John Balga
Posts: 202
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:13 pm
Location: Essex, Essex County, Ontario
Martin Colony History: 2012-69 pairs at old residence
2015- 3 pair at new home colony
2016-6 pair at home colony-1 ASY FEMALE banded from Andy Troyer colony
2017-17 pair at home colony
2018-38 pair at home colony
2019-47 pair at home colony
2020-58 pair at home colony

I managed to secure a cliff swallow hollow from a Canadian Distributor and am posting some pics with hole dimensions for those interested in this swallow species. A number of these placed under an eave attached to a board would certainly be inviting for them. Hope this helps those of you wondering about this nesting structure.
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Brad-AL
Posts: 566
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 2:00 pm
Location: North AL

John, thanks for posting the photos. It's kind of hard to tell for sure, but is the hole dimension 1 1/4" wide X 1 3/4" tall?
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John Balga
Posts: 202
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:13 pm
Location: Essex, Essex County, Ontario
Martin Colony History: 2012-69 pairs at old residence
2015- 3 pair at new home colony
2016-6 pair at home colony-1 ASY FEMALE banded from Andy Troyer colony
2017-17 pair at home colony
2018-38 pair at home colony
2019-47 pair at home colony
2020-58 pair at home colony

Brad-AL wrote:John, thanks for posting the photos. It's kind of hard to tell for sure, but is the hole dimension 1 1/4" wide X 1 3/4" tall?
That is correct Brad. I was wondering what these measurements were as well.....
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