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The barn swallows are gone...

9 years ago

and we miss them already! We've lived here for 13 years and every single year the swallows return in April to nest in our entry. This morning, 8 of them were soaring and swooping in the front yard, must have been the pre-migration gathering. Tonight, the nests are empty. Sure hope they have a safe trip and stay healthy wherever they migrate to.

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Comments (6)

surya55_gw
9 years ago
I know what you mean; I wonder when the cat birds and robins will leave; so far they're gorging on berries for the journey ahead. Sad, isn't it?
petra_gw
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes, it's sad to see them leave. I guess I am suffering from empty nest syndrome, ha. They are facing so many dangers during their migration and for some of the bird species, their winter habitats are being destroyed. Hope your catbirds and robins stick around a while longer!
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frugalflowers, are you sure they were barn swallows? Barn swallows have tan chests and usually like to make nests in the corners and under eaves of barns or other structures. Tree swallows have white chests and like to nest in bluebird boxes. We have had a family of them for several years and really enjoy them. Is there any spraying of pesticides to get rid of insects where you live? If so, the swallows might not have enough food on which to live. Last year, when the weather was horribly rainy for weeks on end here, we lost a few to starvation. Poor little things.
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Just a follow-up note... the barn swallows departed in August, I think around the 15th. They were there one day and suddenly gone the next. I was sad to see them go, I don't even enjoy being able to close the barn door again. It was a very hard year on the colony, perhaps does not bode well for their return. Many if not all of the hatchlings died. Most seemed to have fallen victim to our cats, a fact that I resent bitterly as I am not the cat lover in the family. Another pair I found drowned in the horse trough, for which again, I felt a certain level of culpability. Their presence was nonetheless a delight. We felt included in their morning gatherings as they swooped around the barn and chicken coop feasting on the abundant insect population. I appreciated their company as they followed me on the tractor through the pasture. If you don't have barn swallows on your property, I encourage you to work on attracting a colony. They have tremendous personality and are a source of real joy in the garden.
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These cute little birds are growing so quickly! My concern is that another poster said that they return to the same nest, after fledging, to live for the next few months. Do you think that they will be able to safely find another place to live if we have to take down their nest, for our house project, after they have the ability to fly? Thanks to anyone who can help us make the right decisions!
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This has been a very strange nesting year. Normally, we have both bluebirds and tree swallows occupying a single house most of the season. This year, they have come and gone and have been replaced w/other tenants. If they are like my tree swallows, they are not bothered at all by human activity. I even inspect their nests occasionally, and it doesn't seem to bother them. In fact, owners of martin houses are encouraged to frequently inspect the hatchlings for mites and other issues. Additionally, I've have many encounters w/barn swallows while fishing under bridges. They could care less about my presence. Right now, I've got a Carolina wren who took over my bat house. The bat house blew down in a storm, breaking off part of the top. I put it on its side on a table next to a big woodpile to fix, but that wren decided to nest in it before I could get the roof back on. He also is not too concerned w/my proximity. I'll wait until its done, I guess. Regardless of the strange year, I must say it has been a very successful nesting year, judging by all the juveniles. I don't ever recall seeing so many.
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sorie6 zone 6b
9 years ago
petra you are lucky to have them so long mine left in Aug! We have a nest on our porch that was here when we moved in last yr. So we had them 2 yrs so far. I have the sweetest pic with five of them with all their mouths open to be fed. I took 108 pics before I got that one! I sure hope they come back next yr.
Our robins are still here too.
petra_gw
Original Author
9 years ago
sorie, they will keep coming back every year! Ours arrive in March, so they are here approx half of each year.
Yes, the babies are too cute. Particularly before they fledge, when they sit on the nest edge like little gargoyles. :o)
The robins arrive here around November, I think.
dbarron
9 years ago
I suspect mine will be leaving (if they haven't)..I saw them flying as a family last week.

Love the little dudes...
petra_gw
Original Author
9 years ago
dbarron, that's what ours did. Must be some sort of pre-migration meeting. We also saw geese head South last night, quite a large formation. Sure hope that doesn't mean a particularly cold winter for our part of TX.

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