PM/Swallows in DE
This year we have filled 11 gourds of a 12 gourd unit on our front lawn. The 12th gourd is occupied with an ASY male who tried endlessly to catch a female and finally left our back pier area for the front lawn colony. We are on a large pond and during the beginning of the season have to contend with a TS population. This year we have something that I never encountered before, a second round TS nesting time. We already had 6 successful boxes and usually are able to clean the boxes for the season. This year is different, the TS came right back for a new round. Has anyone else seen this? Our unsuccessful male was chased from the gourds on the pier by a TS pair after he stayed away too long. We have tried for three years to get a colony on the pier. I suspect one tree may be too close, because the male attracted females to the gourds but they didn't stay. In addition, the TS pair arrive in February and it takes forever for them to relocate! I think that this added to the failure of our pier attempt. Next year we will move the pier unit beside our front successful colony and wish for the best.
-
Glen Webb Jr
- Posts: 478
- Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:03 pm
- Location: Illinois/Stewardson
I have encountered the same thing this year in regards to the tree swallows.
Every year I would have occasional second nests after the first broods fledged, but it was only a few here and there. This year, all boxes which fledged young have second nests. However, these are from new pairs. Many of these birds were hanging around while the first broods were near fledging. As soon as the young from a nest fledged, the box was immediately taken by a male tree swallow. A few times a new male was already paired and both worked on defending the box.
All of these second nests have subadult females, and makes me wonder if the males are subadults too. One box was taken by a subadult female I call 'Brownie' due to her unusually brown plumage. She looks like a rough-winged swallow. 'Brownie' hung around one box in particular and even entered a few times while the nestlings remained. The mother would come in to feed and pull 'Brownie' out of the box. As soon as the young fledged, 'Brownie' fiercely defended the box and in less than 2 hours had paired with a male. Just this weekend another pair moved in a box that fledged young on the same day.
In past years I assumed the second nests were from the same pair of swallows, but I'm almost convinced that the second nests are 100% new pairs. I have a dense tree swallow population and I think these birds have been waiting to nest. Out of 16 boxes, 11 had tree swallow nests. Of those 11 nests, 7 have fledged and all 7 of the boxes now have new 'subbie' pairs nesting in them. The other 4 first broods are near fledging. The tree swallows have definitely capitalized on the boxes, but the two bluebird pairs easily bully the tree swallows when they want.
It's been a good year for swallows and martins and having so many tree swallows and barn swallows around is as much fun as hosting martins. Tree swallows are so bold and tame. They just make the day all the more enjoyable.
Every year I would have occasional second nests after the first broods fledged, but it was only a few here and there. This year, all boxes which fledged young have second nests. However, these are from new pairs. Many of these birds were hanging around while the first broods were near fledging. As soon as the young from a nest fledged, the box was immediately taken by a male tree swallow. A few times a new male was already paired and both worked on defending the box.
All of these second nests have subadult females, and makes me wonder if the males are subadults too. One box was taken by a subadult female I call 'Brownie' due to her unusually brown plumage. She looks like a rough-winged swallow. 'Brownie' hung around one box in particular and even entered a few times while the nestlings remained. The mother would come in to feed and pull 'Brownie' out of the box. As soon as the young fledged, 'Brownie' fiercely defended the box and in less than 2 hours had paired with a male. Just this weekend another pair moved in a box that fledged young on the same day.
In past years I assumed the second nests were from the same pair of swallows, but I'm almost convinced that the second nests are 100% new pairs. I have a dense tree swallow population and I think these birds have been waiting to nest. Out of 16 boxes, 11 had tree swallow nests. Of those 11 nests, 7 have fledged and all 7 of the boxes now have new 'subbie' pairs nesting in them. The other 4 first broods are near fledging. The tree swallows have definitely capitalized on the boxes, but the two bluebird pairs easily bully the tree swallows when they want.
It's been a good year for swallows and martins and having so many tree swallows and barn swallows around is as much fun as hosting martins. Tree swallows are so bold and tame. They just make the day all the more enjoyable.
Thank you for you reply. This is my first year seeing the second-go-round of Tree Swallows. I asked someone in the area who has been watching birds for a long time (20 years of Martins and Swallows) if they had experienced this, this was the first time for this, also. I will look forward to next year. I love the opportunity to observe. At this time I am not able to determine if the pairs are the season's originals or new birds. Six boxes fledged and now there are four. Living by a large pond, we also have many swallows.