The swallows have returned only to find that the wrens moved into the nest next door over the winter. They are noisy, anti social and have built a moss nest extension that doesn’t meet swallow building regulations. After filing a complaint with the Parliament of Crows, they are just going to have to start again. Fortunately there’s plenty of straw and mud. #swallows#nesting
A new painting after a long time... Not sure I have it in me anymore...
I had to paint some swallows because they're trying to make a nest in our house. Unfortunately, that part of the house is going to be sealed off within 2-3 months (it currently is wide open because our house is not finished, and because if we don't seal off that part, we can't get house insurance), so the worst thing that could happen to them is not being able to return to their babies. So we keep destroying their barely-started nest, daily (because they keep coming back). It sounds cruel, but it's the right thing to do. We already have another swallow nest on an external part of the house, and that's all good. We love to have them there, swallows are great and very smart birds.
#Birding or #birdwatching question: is there anyone in the #Boston area who has either a good spotting scope or binoculars better than 10x, or is a member of Cottage Park Yacht Club in #WinthropMA ? I keep seeing #swallows of some species that appear to be roosting under the metal cap on one of their dock pillars, but they're dark all over, with only one having even a slightly pale belly. I don't have a telephoto lens- I need help ID'ing the species in person.
A tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Note the visible brood patch in the center of his chest. In preparation for incubating eggs birds will sometimes pluck some of their feathers so they can better transmit their body heat to their eggs.
Saw a pair of barn swallows outside my house just a little while ago. I don't usually see them I think, so it was nice. Sadly, my video of their activity was pretty short and not very good :(
My neighbor informed me that the swallows have been nesting at my house for about 15 years. I know it wasn't continuous since they were new to me last year, but it's pretty cool all the same.
Chicks are still looking OK. Two on the end nearest my door were more active this time (opening and closing their beaks), but the other two showed a little movement as well. #birds#swallows#birdwatching
they're flying! I just walked out to see them taking off. one's still in the nest though--playing it cautious, I guess #nature#birds#swallows#swallowbird
they've all started flying now. They're still around: I saw all the chicks in the nest this morning before they flew off while I was cleaning their poop away. Not sure when they'll migrate away again: I think they left last time because their chicks had all died.