I have a barn swallow pair that is trying to nest on my front porch. I really don't want them there because that is where I sit to observe my Martin Colony and I have a doggie door and five dogs that go in and out all day barking and making lots of noise. Surely, this isn't a good location for them. The crazy things like to fly with the Martins and seem to want to be close to them.
I don't know anything about Barn Swallows but I am willing to learn. If anyone knows how I can entice them to move, I am willing to build a nest or whatever it takes. I don't mind them staying, just not on my front porch.
Any help would be appreciated. You can send me a personal message or e-mail at [email protected]
Jeanne
Jeanne
Anyone knowledgeable about Barn Swallows?
Jeanne,
Actually, all the comings and goings by your door probably won't even phase the barn swallows. They can be amazingly tame. There are artificial nests you can buy and place where they might accept it. I'd be inclined to let them try if you don't mind a little mess. If you do let them stay but you don't want the mess, place a sheet or 2 of newspaper on the ground below the nest and change it when it gets dirty. They're lots of fun to have around.
Patrick
Actually, all the comings and goings by your door probably won't even phase the barn swallows. They can be amazingly tame. There are artificial nests you can buy and place where they might accept it. I'd be inclined to let them try if you don't mind a little mess. If you do let them stay but you don't want the mess, place a sheet or 2 of newspaper on the ground below the nest and change it when it gets dirty. They're lots of fun to have around.
Patrick
Patrick,
Where can I find an artificial nest? This could be fun. I'll let them try if you think the noise factor won't bother them. It certainly doesn't seem to faze the Martins. Even my old Basset hound, Buford, who is the most annoying barking machine EVER, doesn't seem to bother the PM's. Maybe they like it. What predator in his right mind would bother my PM colony with Buford on scout patrol!
Jeanne
Where can I find an artificial nest? This could be fun. I'll let them try if you think the noise factor won't bother them. It certainly doesn't seem to faze the Martins. Even my old Basset hound, Buford, who is the most annoying barking machine EVER, doesn't seem to bother the PM's. Maybe they like it. What predator in his right mind would bother my PM colony with Buford on scout patrol!
Jeanne
"Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap, yet your heavenly Father feeds them."
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TreeGreenwood
- Posts: 362
- Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 9:27 pm
- Location: Virginia/Catlett
Surf over to http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/per/b4.htm.
Like Martins, Barnies are accustomed to people and depend on human-made structures for nest sites. In the past, they mostly nested on the rough-hewn wooden beams inside barns where they were protected from the elements and predators (rat snakes can't travel horizontally along a beam if there's a floor for the hay loft on top). Modern barns are prefab' metal that's unsuitable for their nests so Barnies look for whatever is available... often over the porch light on someone's home.
Barnies are great to have around. Try sitting out in the yard in the evening to attract some gnats and mosquitoes. The Barnies will zoom right around your head to snatch bugs. They'll also follow along as you walk through or mow the grass to grab the insects that you scare up. When the Martins and Tree Swallows settle in for the night, Barnies will join bats in gobbling up bugs attracted by a floodlight or porch light when they're feeding young all day and need to get some vittles for themselves.
Take care and enjoy the birds,
Tree
PS: Make a mud puddle for your Barnies. Some of your Martins might use it, too.
Like Martins, Barnies are accustomed to people and depend on human-made structures for nest sites. In the past, they mostly nested on the rough-hewn wooden beams inside barns where they were protected from the elements and predators (rat snakes can't travel horizontally along a beam if there's a floor for the hay loft on top). Modern barns are prefab' metal that's unsuitable for their nests so Barnies look for whatever is available... often over the porch light on someone's home.
Barnies are great to have around. Try sitting out in the yard in the evening to attract some gnats and mosquitoes. The Barnies will zoom right around your head to snatch bugs. They'll also follow along as you walk through or mow the grass to grab the insects that you scare up. When the Martins and Tree Swallows settle in for the night, Barnies will join bats in gobbling up bugs attracted by a floodlight or porch light when they're feeding young all day and need to get some vittles for themselves.
Take care and enjoy the birds,
Tree
PS: Make a mud puddle for your Barnies. Some of your Martins might use it, too.
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Guest
Jeanne, I had a barnie pair nest on my house last year - fortunately out of the way . To the dismay of my neighbours they also tried nesting over their entrance door.
I am trying something this year that might work. I have build nesting cups out of undersized gourds (4 per gourd). I build 2 dozen of these. The barnies aren't in yet but it would appear that an Eastern Phoebe is building a nest in one of them.
I hope they work out , it would be a great way of controlling their choice of nesting location.
I am trying something this year that might work. I have build nesting cups out of undersized gourds (4 per gourd). I build 2 dozen of these. The barnies aren't in yet but it would appear that an Eastern Phoebe is building a nest in one of them.
I hope they work out , it would be a great way of controlling their choice of nesting location.
Stan,
The nest you made looks really good. Where are you going to put the nest? In your barn or around your house?
I think the barn swallow is trying to start a nest in a fern basket on my front porch. Does that seem right to you? Today I hastily made up a Box shaped nest with a roof and put it up in place of the fern. We'll see if the barn swallow takes to the box or not. I really didn't want her on my porch but she just won't give up so I had to relent.
Jeanne
The nest you made looks really good. Where are you going to put the nest? In your barn or around your house?
I think the barn swallow is trying to start a nest in a fern basket on my front porch. Does that seem right to you? Today I hastily made up a Box shaped nest with a roof and put it up in place of the fern. We'll see if the barn swallow takes to the box or not. I really didn't want her on my porch but she just won't give up so I had to relent.
Jeanne"Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap, yet your heavenly Father feeds them."
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Guest
Type it in and this guys site comes up. I bought 4 from him a few years ago. Have not had any Barn Swallows use them, though they seem interested. The House Finches love them though. You can try putting out a garbage can lid with mud and water mixed or make a mud wallow in your yard, in the open, for the Barn Swallows to use for constructing their nests. Around here, Wisconsin, they seem to like to be on the west or southwest sides of buildings if they are not using an enclosure like, well, a barn. Hang your artificial cups or nests within a couple of inches of an overhang. So they have only a few inches of clearance above them. They seem to prefer this. Good luck.
If you don't want to buy a nest. Take about 4 or 5 16 penny nails and drive them into a wall about 1 to 2 inchs apart, about 4 inchs below the ceiling. They will use the nails to hold the mud. Works great. You're going to have a mess though.
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Guest
I am going to cheat a little - in 2 instances I will place the cups besides existing barnie nests 
I am keeping a few in reserve and will install them in places , or slightly to the side, where they are trying to build nests.
I also installed a few in places that I think are 'suitable'
They arrived yesterday afternoon - they can fly circles around PMs and TS!!
I am keeping a few in reserve and will install them in places , or slightly to the side, where they are trying to build nests.I also installed a few in places that I think are 'suitable'
They arrived yesterday afternoon - they can fly circles around PMs and TS!!
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Guest
I would just let them be barn swallows are fun to watch also. You should see them go after my cats.