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Barn Swallows busy raising families

6/30/2015

2 Comments

 
Arlene Koziol has been recording photographically the activities of the swallows living in the cliffs along the shoreline of Lake Mendota east of Raymer's Cove. These beautiful sandstone cliffs, with convenient cracks between ancient layers of sandstone, are popular with both Cliff Swallows and Barn Swallows. The Barn Swallows use mud and dried sticks and grass, almost the same materials our ancestors used to fill the empty spaces between the timbers of their early houses, to plaster their nest on the cliff sides. They place the opening of the nest just below a larger crevice in the cliff, cracks between layers of sandstone that form little caves. As the family grows up, often 5-6 nestlings, they take advantage of this extra space in the sheltered crevice. 
Both parents feed the young, and sometimes even the offspring of previous brood help to rise the second batch of  nestlings. Flitting about the cliff wall and overhanging vegetation they feeds on a wide variety of insects, flies, beetles, wasps,and bugs; even wild bees, damsel flies and the occasional spider. Alll photos by Arlene Koziol
2 Comments
Paul Noeldner
7/1/2015 03:36:16 am

Great pictures Arlene! It is wonderful to see Barn Swallows nesting in natural habitat. I would add that human structures also provide important Barn Swallow nesting sites. In Japan for example, it is traditional to put a ledge above the front door on purpose to provide homes for Swallows which are considered good luck. When given the opportunity, please practice a bit of 'Accommodation Architecture' by leaving some ledges and beams exposed on homes, eves, decks, garages and other structures where Barn Swallows, Cliff Swallows, Phoebes, Robins and other native birds can nest above areas where droppings are not a particularly big deal, and enjoy these wonderful human-accommodating bird companions!

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Nicholas Beltran link
5/20/2022 08:50:51 am

Great blog thanks for posting

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  • Home
  • What We Do
    • Volunteering
    • Field Trips >
      • Self-guided Field Trips
    • Community Outreach >
      • Science Expeditions 2021
    • Friends Projects
    • Newsletter
    • Research
    • Citizen Science
  • People & Events
  • The Preserve
    • Stories
    • Maps >
      • 1918 Marsh
      • Eagle Heights Woods
    • Birds >
      • Bluebirds
      • Purple Martins
    • Animals
    • Plants
    • Lichens
  • Support us
  • About
    • Mission and Goals
    • Annual Report
    • Committees & Contact
  • Blog