Barn Swallows - Barn Swallows move into workshop home

Barn Swallows nest on a shelve !

By Peter John

Angie this picture features the new little box I installed in the barn. Both newcomers have settle in it for the nights. Don't wont to upset them at the moment by using flash on the camera, as it's dark inside the workshop barn and they might get nervous. Will send on photos very soon to view these two huddled together in the box .

I never thought a swallow would adapt to it unless it was a last resort. It has a slate on the top and there is a bottom which the picture isn't showing that well, plus a bit of mesh wire to stop any nest they might build falling out. The rear of the barn has a vent which I can open on hot days for cooling inside. Just about see it in closed position with wire mesh along side. With the stable type door open in the front together with this vent a nice cool breeze flows through during our arctic summers compared to lucky you.

6-04-2011 update
Yes regards this pair arriving together, not normally the case unless pairs arriving later in May. Usually have the Male first alone in the barn for almost a week then the female arrives. They greet each other with great excitement chirping loudly and singing if that's the word. Getting to know all their communications, a new female will investigate the barn with a loud hissing noise like a snake. Sharp screech if danger is present. Chirping for long periods on wires when they are happy. Tiny quiet chips to babies when first hatched. Marvelous watch dogs? for hawks in vicinity of garden, and not only warn the other small birds of danger with loud screeches but also mob the hawk in numbers to chase them away.

Our blackbird takes over in the winter with similar loud screech. I never found out where babies go when escorted from nest site when old enough to fend for themselves. They say in books that the parents take them to a safe place, where ever that might be? I know in the past that one family of the male babies that had been flying in barn, before going out into the world were kicked out immediately after two days and spent the night in the large trees in the garden.

The swallows only land on dead trees, don't like the ones with leaves unless feeding new babies that will hide amongst the leaves for protection. That's my observation around my patch. The swallows in the barn were mating this morning and been inspecting all four nests in the barn for which one they will have first brood in. Let you know how things go. Just noticed on the camera them taking grass for nest renovation to one of the nests on the top wooden shelf they used last year. The fifty odd swallows have moved on now that were around cottage the other day. Could have been on their way further west or to Ireland. All the farmers I know haven't any swallows yet.