Tree Swallows and Pine Straw?

[Jim Spetzman]

I put up 2 Blue Bird size houses by my Martin houses and other years just left the houses empty, but was thinking a little pine straw would entice them easier to the house rather than my Martin houses?? Other years when I looked inside a TS house, they have a nest made of very soft fibers and feathers. Would the white pine needles be to coarse for them? Thanks, Jim

[Ed Pace]

It would not be their choice but they might use it,only they will line the inside with feathers. I never put nesting material in for ts's. I have taken an old pillow apart and put a hand full of feathers in the yard and they sure have a ball with those.

[KathyF]

My tree swallows are picking white pine needles out of the pile I left in the yard for the martins. It's important that they're WHITE PINE needles, and not the short leaf pine variety.

YMMV.

[Bill Hyde]

Don't know about TS houses, but they really seem to like the white pine pre-nest I make for them in their single gourd. They add the feathers.

[flyin-lowe]

The TS will use a house but my observations have been that they prefer gourds. I use Big Bo gourds for TS gourds and I put some pine straw in them just because they are pretty big gourds. The TS always leave the pine straw in and add some stuff. Once they bring the feathers in I know it is about time for them to lay eggs.