Back From The South We were glad to see our old friends who flew back from the South, the Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). It’s fun to watch them chirping while gliding around at high speed. This spring one of their usual nest boxes was taken first by an Eastern Bluebird family (previous post) which had already produced four beautiful eggs. One of the Swallows poked its head in the house … Continue reading Tree Swallows
Tree Swallow Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) have been back in the neighborhood for a few weeks. They have been checking nest boxes around the garden but they have been chased out of each nest box they tried by the House Sparrows. In turn, we chased the Sparrows out. It’s a spring ritual that we have to do in order to secure a place for the … Continue reading First To Nest
Two Tree Swallow Nests Eggs of the Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) by the vegetable garden have hatched, all five of them. Mom and dad are busy catching insects for the chicks. They are not bothered by me working in the vegetable garden now. I think they have learned from last year that I didn’t harm their kids so they let me walk near by … Continue reading Bird Colony – Choice Avian Real Estate
They Have Fledged It was very windy and a little cold last Monday, felt almost like a cold front was coming in. I limp along in the garden due to a golf ball sized bruise swelling on my right shin. Why? Tripped on a cement block in the garden while looking up when I should have been looking down. Despite the wind, it was a very nice day. … Continue reading Bluebirds, First Brood
Old And New Tenants It’s only the second week of May but five bird families have already settled down in our garden, as far as I can see. Two pairs of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) have decided to build their nests here: one has taken a nest box in the front yard and one at the corner of the vegetable garden. The same spots they … Continue reading Early Nesting
Looking For the Perfect Place It’s that time of year again…a time to look for a perfect place to raise a new generation. The birds that usually hang out together during winter start chasing one another, claiming their territory. A few of them checking out the nest boxes we put up in the garden. I cleaned them in mid-fall and put them back up for … Continue reading Bluebird House Hunting
Tree Swallow vs Eastern Bluebird The usual visitors to our garden in the past few years just came back…the Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). We heard their unique gargle-like chirp up in the sky a few days ago. Four of them. Yesterday they were chased off by the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) couple that have been checking the bird houses in our garden. They have narrowed … Continue reading Hope they settle down soon
Petals and Wings 