Archive for September, 2006
The Star Online - Sep 05 8:42 PM
By RASLAN BAHAROM
RENOVATION work purportedly for a swiftlet farm atop a five-storey block of low-cost flats in Kampung Boyan, Taiping, has irked the residents.
They fear that the building may collapse and that the bird droppings may be hazardous to their health.
“The renovation work started about a week ago,” said housewife Norain Ariffin.
Norain, 45, and her husband, Mohd Said Awang, 53, has been staying in their fourth-floor unit for the past eight years.
“We have bought the flat. We may have to move out from here but where are we to go?” she asked.
Norain said one of her neighbours queried a man who was accompanying some workers in-volved in the renovation work.
“The neighbour was told that the Taiping Municipal Council had given approval for the renovation,” she said.
Another resident, pensioner Zakaria Ibrahim,70, said apart from the bird droppings, there would be noise pollution.
He said operators of swiftlet farms would usually attract the birds with recordings of their chirping, causing a nuisance in the neighbourhood.
Aulong assemblyman Alfred Ng who visited the flats recently said swiftlet farms were not allowed within housing schemes.
He added that this was stated under the local council by-laws.
Taiping Municipal Council secretary Shahrom Datuk Malek confirmed that the operation of a swiftlet farm was not allowed in residential areas.
September 29th, 2006
The Star Online - Sep 07 8:59 PM
WITH close to RM146mil (US$40mil) worth of bird nests produced yearly in Malaysia, it is no surprise that it has attracted many to venture into this business.
In line with the growing interest, the first South-East Asia Swiftlet Farming Confe-rence is in the offing.
The conference, to be held from Oct 11 to Oct 14 at Sunway Hotel in Seberang Prai, will have a panel of ex-perts, including producers from Thailand and Indonesia as well as scientists and government officials, sharing ideas on the swiftlet industry.
Among others, the experts will present papers on ‘An overview of swiftlet farming in South-East Asia’, ‘Government policy of swiftlet farming in South-East Asia with special reference to Malaysia’ and ‘Value add and marketing of swiftlet’.
Themed ‘Challenges for a Sustainable Swiftlet Farming’, the conference is organised by the MCA Traditional Agricul-ture and Agro-based Industry Bureau.
MCA Traditional Agriculture & Agro Based Industry Bureau chairman Datuk Dr Lee Chong Meng said the conference would be a good networking avenue to get feedback on the current problems affecting swiftlet farmers.
“Indonesia is currently the top producer of bird’s nest and we (Malaysia) rank third or fourth. There is still a lot of room for improvement.
“The bird’s nest market is big. It has high returns with minimal costs. This will be the place for bird’s nest entrepreneurs, consultants, traders and the public to come together,” he told a press conference in Butterworth.
Dr Lee said many were keen to invest in the industry but were baffled with the various by-laws adopted by the local authorities.
“We are planning to arrange a dialogue with the various ministries to thrash out problems faced by swiftlet farmers.
“We also plan to submit a memorandum on the issue by the end of this year,” he said.
The conference will also include a trip to Haadyai, Thailand, to visit swiftlet farms. Those interested can contact the Bukit Bintang MCA branch at 03-4045 2422.
September 29th, 2006
birdnestzone.com
A group of swiftles which is widely distributed in the tropical Indo-Pacific region, mainly on islands, is responsible for the production of edible nests of commerce. Their habitats include rock shelters, caves and other cave-like situations including buildings, culverts and tunnels. The distribution of the swiftlets ranges from the Seychelles Islands in the west Indian Ocean to the east on Marquesas Island in the Pacific. They extend northwards from Himachal Pradesh, India to Szechuan, China and southwards on the Mauritius Island, to Queensland, Australia and New Caledonia.
Five species of swiftlets occur in Borneo and all of them are found in Sarawak. Of these, three species of the genus Aerodramus have the capacity to echolocate and navigate in darkness, while the other two genera (Hydrochous and Collocalia) lack this faculty. The giant swiftlets (H. gigas) is the largest of the swiftlets and constructs nest of plant material with little soft salivary cement. C. esculenta is the smallest of the swiftlets, and it typically builds plant nests under bridges and roof spaces of homes.
The mossy-nest swiftlets (A. vanikorensis) builds mossy nest with little cement. A. maximus is the only commercial black edible-nest builder. Its lower leg has a row of small feathers on the outer and inner side. The white edible-nest build by A. fuciphagus is found in caves and cliffs of offshore islands of Satang Besar, Pulau Lakei and in inland caves in Suai and Baram in Sarawak. It is also found in the Bay of Bengal, Haiphong (Vietnam), South East Palawan (Philippines) and the Lesser Sunda Islands (Indonesia).
The salivary cement of Aerodramus swiftlets’ nest constitute the basis of the famous Chinese cuisine since the sixteen century. Bird’s nest caves in Sarawak are mostly licensed to the families of their original owners although there are some sale of ownerships. The system of nest harvesting differs at different locations. The Sarawak Museum is charged with the licensing of the ownership and management of the bird’s nest caves. Population census of the swiftlets are carried out regularly to determine the level of nest production.
Bird’s Nest Caves
In Sarawak Bird’s nest caves are found throughout Sarawak. However most of the edible white-nests are found in caves in the coastal islands, Suai and Baram. The black-nest swiftlets on the other hand nest in limestone caves in Lundu, Bau, Lingga, Klingkang, Tatau, Tinjar, Dulit Range, Similajau, Niah, Subis, Mulu and Merapok. Most of the bird’s nest cave has a grant to the right of collecting bird’s nest as a form of licence since the early days. Today, birds’ nest licences are issued by the Sarawak Museum and Forest Department to the rightful owners.
September 28th, 2006
birdnestzone.com
Bird’s nest is a Chinese delicacy that has been claimed to be an effective health giving tonic. The ‘nest’ in itself is made by Aerodramus (bird) form a nourishment rich gel secretion which modern research has revealed to contain a number of health promoting qualities. Bird’s nest is pleasant on the palate, contains plenty of nourishment and possesses what the Chinese call “rejuvenating effects”. Modern science has help ascertain the age old belief that bird’s nest contains a host of different proteins (so essential to life), vitamins and various other minerals.
Research has also found that bird’s nest contains theepidermal growth factor. This helps explain why Chinese herbalists often prescribe bird’s nest to people who fail to thrive or grow for no apparent reason.
Independent laboratory investigation has also revealed that bird’s nest contains a water soluble glyco-protein that promotes cell division within the immune system. These findings lend support to the belief that bird’s nest promotes growth and tissue repair. Not only that, bird’s nest strengthens the body’s self regulating actions and provides resistance to disease.
Chinese believe that this layer of saliva is rich in protein and vitamins. Ladies consider bird’s nest one of the best beauty aids. They believe the protein and vitamins in the nest rejuvenate the complexion, smoothes the skin and keeps them looking young.
The Bird Nest also good for lungs, digestion and helps to prevent overall dryness while boosting the immune system.
September 28th, 2006
[Chimney Swift.]
abirdshome.com
CHOETURA PELASGIA, Temm.
[Chaetura pelasgia.]
PLATE XLIV.–MALE, FEMALE, AND NEST
Since the progress of civilization in our country has furnished thousands of convenient places for this Swallow to breed in, safe from storms, snakes, or quadrupeds, it has abandoned, with a judgment worthy of remark, its former abodes in the hollows of trees, and taken possession of the chimneys which emit no smoke in the summer season. For this reason, no doubt, it has obtained the name by which it is generally known. I well remember the time when, in Lower Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, many resorted to excavated branches and trunks, for the purpose of breeding; nay, so strong is the influence of original habit, that not a few still betake themselves to such places, not only to roost, but also to breed, especially in those wild portions of our country that can scarcely be said to be inhabited. In such instances, they appear to be as nice in the choice of a tree, as they generally are in our cities in the choice of a chimney, wherein to roost. Sycamores of gigantic growth, and having a mere shell of bark and wood to support them, seem to suit them best, and wherever I have met with one of those patriarchs of the forest rendered habitable by decay, there I have found the Swallows breeding in spring and summer, and afterwards roosting until the time of their departure. I had a tree of this kind cut down, which contained about thirty of their nests in its trunk, and one in each of the hollow branches.
The nest, whether placed in a tree or chimney, consists of small dry twigs, which are procured by the birds in a singular manner. While on wing, the Chimney Swallows are seen in great numbers whirling round the tops of some decayed or dead tree, as if in pursuit of their insect prey. Their movements at this time are extremely rapid; they throw their body suddenly against the twig, grapple it with their feet, and by an instantaneous jerk, snap it off short, and proceed with it to the place intended for the nest. The Frigate Pelican sometimes employs the same method for a similar purpose, carrying away the stick in its bill, in place of holding it with its feet.
The Swallow fixes the first sticks on the wood, the rock, or the chimney wall, by means of its saliva, arranging them in a semicircular form, crossing and interweaving them, so as to extend the framework outwards. The whole is afterwards glued together with saliva, which is spread around it for an inch or more, to fasten it securely. When the nest is in a chimney, it is generally placed on the east side, and is from five to eight feet from the entrance; but in the hollow of a tree, where only they breed in communities, it is placed high or low according to convenience. The fabric, which is very frail, now and then gives way, either under the pressure of the parents and young, or during sudden bursts of heavy rain, when the whole is dashed to the ground. The eggs are from four to six, and of a pure white colour. Two broods are raised in the season.
The flight of this species is performed somewhat in the manner of the European Swift, but in a more hurried although continued style, and generally by repeated flappings, unless when courtship is going on, on which occasion it is frequently seen sailing with its wings fixed as it were; both sexes as they glide through the air issuing a shrill rattling twitter, and the female receiving the caresses of the male. At other times it is seen ranging far and wide at a considerable elevation over the forests and cities; again, in wet weather, it flies close over the ground; and anon it skims the water, to drink and bathe. When about to descend into a hollow tree or a chimney, its flight, always rapid, is suddenly interrupted as if by magic, for down it goes in an instant, whirling in a peculiar manner, and whirring with its wings, so as to produce a sound in the chimney like the rumbling of very distant thunder. They never alight on trees or on the ground. If one is caught and placed on the latter, it can only move in a very awkward fashion. I believe that the old birds sometimes fly at night, and have reason to think that the young are fed at such times, as I have heard the whirring sound of the former, and the acknowledging cries of the latter, during calm and clear nights.
When the young accidentally fall, which sometimes happens, although the nest should remain, they scramble up again, by means of their sharp claws, lifting one foot after another, in the manner of young Wood Ducks, and supporting themselves with their tail. Some days before the young are able to fly, they scramble up the walls to near the mouth of the chimney, where they are fed. Any observer may discover this, as he sees the parents passing close over them, without entering the funnel. The same occurrence takes place when they are bred in a tree.
In the cities, these birds make choice of a particular chimney for their roosting place, where, early in spring, before they have begun building, both sexes resort in multitudes, from an hour or more before sunset, until long after dark. Before entering the aperture, they fly round and over it many times, but finally go in one at a time, until hurried by the lateness of the hour, several drop in together. They cling to the wall with their claws, supporting themselves also by their sharp tail, until the dawn, when, with a roaring sound, the whole pass out almost at once. Whilst at St. Francisville in Louisiana, I took the trouble of counting how many entered one chimney before dark. I sat at a window not far from the spot, and reckoned upwards of a thousand, having missed a considerable number. The place at that time contained about a hundred houses, and no doubt existed in my mind that the greater number of these birds were on their way southward, and had merely stopped there for the night.
Immediately after my arrival at Louisville, in the State of Kentucky, I became acquainted with the late hospitable and amiable Major WILLIAM CROGHAN and his family. While talking one day about birds, he asked me if I had seen the trees in which the Swallows were supposed to spend the winter, but which they only entered, he said, for the purpose of roosting. Answering in the affirmative, I was informed that on my way back to town, there was a tree remarkable on account of the immense numbers that resorted to it, and the place in which it stood was described to me. I found it to be a sycamore, nearly destitute of branches, sixty or seventy feet high, between seven and eight feet in diameter at the base, and about five for the distance of forty feet up, where the stump of a broken hollowed branch, about two feet in diameter, made out from the main stem. This was the place at which the Swallows entered. On closely examining the tree, I found it hard, but hollow to near the roots. It was now about four o’clock, afternoon, in the month of July. Swallows were flying over Jeffersonville, Louisville, and the woods around, but there were none near the tree. I proceeded home, and shortly after returned on foot. The sun was going down behind the Silver Hills; the evening was beautiful; thousands of Swallows were flying closely above me, and three or four at a time were pitching into the hole, like bees hurrying into their hive. I remained, my head leaning on the tree, listening to the roaring noise made within by the birds as they settled and arranged themselves, until it was quite dark, when I left the place, although I was convinced that many more had to enter. I did not pretend to count them, for the number was too great, and the birds rushed to the entrance so thick as to baffle the attempt. I had scarcely returned to Louisville, when a violent thunder-storm passed suddenly over the town, and its appearance made me think that the hurry of the Swallows to enter the tree was caused by their anxiety to avoid it. I thought of the Swallows almost the whole night, so anxious had I become to ascertain their number, before the time of their departure should arrive.
Next morning I rose early enough to reach the place long before the least appearance of daylight, and placed my head against the tree. All was silent within. I remained in that posture probably twenty minutes, when suddenly I thought the great tree was giving way,, and coming down upon me. Instinctively I sprung from it, but when I looked up to it again, what was my astonishment to see it standing as firm as ever. The Swallows were now pouring out in a black continued stream. I ran back to my post, and listened in amazement to the noise within, which I could compare to nothing else than the sound of a large wheel revolving under a powerful stream. It was yet dusky, so that I could hardly see the hour on my watch, but I estimated the time which they took in getting out at more than thirty minutes. After their departure, no noise was heard within, and they dispersed in every direction with the quickness of thought.
I immediately formed the project of examining the interior of the tree, which, as my kind friend, Major CROGHAN, had told me, proved the most remarkable I had ever met with. This I did, in company with a hunting associate. We went provided with a strong line and a rope, the first of which we, after several trials, succeeded in throwing across the broken branch. Fastening the rope to the line we drew it up, and pulled it over until it reached the ground again. Provided with the longest cane we could find, I mounted the tree by the rope, without accident, and at length seated myself at ease on the broken branch; but my labour was fruitless, for I could see nothing through the hole, and the cane, which was about fifteen feet long, touched nothing on the sides of the tree within that could give any information. I came down fatigued and disappointed.
The next day I hired a man, who cut a hole at the base of the tree. The shell was only eight or nine inches thick, and the axe soon brought the inside to view, disclosing a matted mass of exuviae, with rotten feathers reduced to a kind of mould, in which, however, I could perceive fragments of insects and quills. I had a passage cleared, or rather bored through this mass, for nearly six feet. This operation took up a good deal of time, and knowing by experience that if the birds should notice the hole below. they would abandon the tree, I had it carefully closed. The Swallows came as usual that night, and I did not disturb them for several days. At last, provided with a dark lantern, I went with my companion about nine in the evening, determined to have a full view of the interior of the tree. The hole was opened with caution. I scrambled up the sides of the mass of exuvia, and my friend followed. All was perfectly silent. Slowly and gradually I brought the light of the lantern to bear on the sides of the hole above us, when we saw the Swallows clinging side by side, covering the whole surface of the excavation. In no instance did I see one above another. Satisfied with the sight, I closed the lantern. We then caught and killed with as much care as possible more than a hundred, stowing them away in our pockets and bosoms, and slid down into the open air. We observed that, while on this visit, not a bird had dropped its dung upon us. Closing the entrance, we marched towards Louisville perfectly elated. On examining the birds which we had procured, a hundred and fifteen in number, we found only six females. Eighty-seven were adult males; of the remaining twenty-two the sex could not be ascertained, and I had no doubt that they were the young of that year’s first brood, the flesh and quill-feathers being tender and soft.
Let us now make a rough calculation of the number that clung to the tree. The space beginning at the pile of feathers and moulded exuviae, and ending at the entrance of the hole above, might be fully 25 feet in height, with a breadth of 15 feet, supposing the tree to be 5 feet in diameter at an average. There would thus be 375 feet square of surface. Each square foot, allowing a bird to cover a space of 3 inches by 1 1/2 which is more than enough, judging from the manner in which they were packed, would contain 32 birds. The number of Swallows, therefore, that roosted in this single tree was 9000.
I watched the motion of the Swallows, and when the young birds that had been reared in the chimneys of Louisville, Jeffersonville, and the houses of the neighbourhood, or the trees suited for the purpose, had left their native recesses, I visited the tree on the 2nd day of August. I concluded that the numbers resorting to it had not increased; but I found many more females and young than males, among upwards of fifty, which were caught and opened. Day after day I watched the tree. On the 13th of August, not more than two or three hundred came there to roost. On the 18th of the same month, not one did I see near it, and only a few scattered individuals were passing, as if moving southward. In September I entered the tree at night, but not a bird was in it. Once more I went to it in February, when the weather was very cold; and perfectly satisfied that all these Swallows had left our country, I finally closed the entrance, and left off visiting it.
May arrived, bringing with its vernal warmth the wanderers of the air, and I saw their number daily augmenting, as they resorted to the tree to roost. About the beginning of Sane, I took it in my head to close the aperture above, with a bundle of straw, which with a string I could draw off whenever I might choose. The result was curious enough; the birds as usual came to the tree towards night; they assembled, passed and repassed, with apparent discomfort, until I perceived many flying, off to a great distance, on which I removed the straw, when many entered the hole, and continued to do so until I could no longer see them from the ground.
I left Louisville, having removed my residence to Henderson, and did not see the tree until five years after, when I still found the Swallows resorting to it. The pieces of wood with which I had closed the entrance had rotted, or had been carried off, and the hole was again completely filled with exuviae and mould. During a severe storm, their ancient tenement at length gave way, and came to the ground.
General WILLIAM CLARK assured me that he saw this species on the whole of his route to the Pacific, and there can be no doubt that in those wilds it still breeds in trees or rocky caverns.
Its food consists entirely of insects, the pellets composed of the indigestible parts of which it disgorges. It is furnished with glands which supply the unctuous matter with which it fastens its nest.
This species does not appear to extend its migrations farther east than the British provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It is unknown in Newfoundland and Labrador; nor was it until the 29th of May that I saw some at Eastport in Maine, where a few breed.
CHIMNEY SWALLOW, Hirundo pelasgia, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. v. p. 48.
CYPSELUS PELASGIUS, Bonap. Syn., p. 63.
CHIMNEY SWIFT or SWALLOW, Cypselus pelasgius, Nutt. Man., vol. i. p. 609.
CHIMNEY SWALLOW or AMERICAN SWIFT, Cypselus pelasgius, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. ii. p. 329; vol. v. p. 419.
Brownish-black, lighter on the rump, with a slight greenish gloss on the head and back; throat greyish-white, lower parts greyish-brown, tinged with green; loral space black, and a greyish-white line over the eye. Female similar to the male.
September 27th, 2006
nps.gov
Swallows of the family Hirundinidae are small, adept aerialists with long, pointed wings and deeply forked tails. Although their bills are short, their mouths are wide for capturing flying insects. Overall, swallows resemble swifts but have stronger, more fluid flight. Highly gregarious, they form large flocks and may be seen perched in long rows along branches or wires. Three species of swallows occur in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve; Violet-green, Tree and Bank Swallows. Violet-green Swallows are named for their beautiful, iridescent plumage. Their genus name, Tachycineta, means “fast-moving” and refers to their rapid flight.Descriptions: Violet-green Swallows are common in montane, coniferous-deciduous woodlands. They were also found above treeline in sedimentary rock formations that provided nesting cavities within Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. As their name implies, these small, 13cm swallows are vibrant emerald and violet above with bright, white underparts. Very short-tailed, their wingtips project well beyond the tips of their tails. Confused only with the Tree Swallow, the Violet-green Swallow may be distinguished by the large, white flank patches extending over the sides of the rump and white cheek patches extending over the eyes. Juveniles are gray-brown above, mottled-white below and lack the white extending above the eyes in the adults.
Vocalizations: The song of the Violet-green Swallow is a creaking “teer, twee, tsip, tsip, tsip.” Their calls are harsher “chilp” or “chil-lip” notes. When alarmed, the call is a clear and descending series of repeated “seer” or “teewp” notes.
Nests: Violet-green Swallows nest in tree-cavities, snags, rock crevices or nest boxes. These swallows nest singly and compete for nest cavities with other species. Nests are woven of grasses and lined with feathers. A clutch consists of 4-6, 19mm, white and unmarked eggs. The female alone incubates the clutch for 13-14 days and young birds fledge in another 16-24 days. Both parents care for the offspring.
Diet: The diet of the Violet-green Swallow is composed of insects. These birds are elegant fliers and dart to catch flying insects in aerial pursuit.
Distribution: At the end of the summer, Violet-green Swallows aggregate in enormous, pre-migratory, communal roosts of up to 100,000 birds! Often, they form mixed flocks with Tree Swallows. They winter in South America and Honduras. In summer, they range throughout central and southern Alaska and Yukon, and southward along the Pacific Coast to Mexico. Within Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, these birds were detected in just two ecological units during the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve Bird Inventory, June 1999 and 2000. Only two Violet-green Swallows were encountered in the forests of the Ogilvie Foothills (OF) and the Tintina Hills (TH) ecological units. Violet-green Swallows are expected to be more numerous in the Preserve, but swallow species in general were not well inventoried using our survey technique.
September 26th, 2006
birdbusters.com
Swallow Identification
Cliff swallows and barn swallows are slender, sleek birds that spend their spring and summers in North America. Swallows are very territorial and will return to the same nesting site over and over. Building eaves and other structures often replace cliffs these days to build their distinctive mud pellet nests (see photo at right). Swallows have brownish red faces and throats with steel blue coats and light colored bellies. Cliff swallows have squared off tails, but barn swallows have long forked tails (see top photo). Young swallows have similar coloring, but lighter.
Damage Caused by Swallows
Swallows are often a nuisance in suburban areas as they build their mud nests that damage and deface the outer walls and eaves of residences and office buildings. Swallow feces often end up on the sides of buildings and the ground below from the colony of birds in residence. Building owners report extra clean up costs and concern over slip and fall liability from swallow dropping buildup, plus an unclean, dirty company image. The bacteria, fungal agents and parasites found in swallow droppings and nests can carry a host of serious diseases, including histoplasmosis, encephalitis, salmonella, meningitis, toxoplasmosis and more.
Swallow Control
These small, nimble birds enjoy special legal protection. Once they have laid their eggs in the nest, you CANNOT disturb them. You must wait until they leave for their winter homes to remove the nests and then exclude them using 3/4 inch bird netting installed along the underside of the eaves at an angle to prevent them from building their nests there the following year. Another option is to install several strands of bird wire under the eaves in a strategic pattern to prevent nest buildout. Installation should be completed by a professional bird consultant. Call our offices for more information.
September 26th, 2006
coveside.com
The Tree Swallow (Trachycineta bicolor) is common in any wooded habitat near lakes, streams or marshes. They nest in holes in dead trees, fence posts, eaves, and nesting boxes. The slender Tree Swallow is wonderful at aerial stunts, swooping and diving to catch flying insects. Their reputation for catching mosquitoes far exceeds reality, as they generally retire about the time of day when mosquitoes are abundant.
Their dark blue-green top and pure white underside distinguishes them. Males and females look quite alike.
They spend spring in all but the southernmost states and migrate to the Gulf coast and Mexico for winter. Migrating flocks may number in the thousands.
Tree Swallows take readily to nesting boxes placed out in the open in rural or suburban areas, and they are quite comfortable around people. Once you have them nesting on your property, you may find their population increasing if you put up more boxes each year, as they tend to return to the same spots each year, especially if insects are abundant. Tree swallows like to line their nests with grass and feathers. If you have access to chicken feathers or others, leave some around the nesting boxes, and the swallows will use them.
Prolonged periods of cold, rainy weather will inhibit the Tree Swallows’ ability to catch insects, and the adults may travel a distance to find some. Unfortunately, this sometimes leaves the young too long without food, and they perish. But this will not keep them from returning to start a new nesting They lay 5 to 6 pure white eggs and generally raise one brood each year, which is cared for by both parents.
Tree Swallows feed on bayberries in the winter, allowing them to winter father north than other swallows. They are also among the first to migrate north in the spring.
Tree Swallows like playing with feathers, and can frequently be seen tossing one into the air and catching it, or chasing another swallow with a feather.
Tree Swallows will tolerate fairly close neighbors of their own kind. Nesting boxes may be placed as close as 30 feet apart, or even on the same tree. They should be mounted on posts or trees out in the open, near water. It is even acceptable to place the post in water.
Tree Swallows are good neighbors for Eastern Bluebirds and will even help to defend the less aggressive bluebird against its competitors. They like the same size nesting box, so placing two houses near each other, or even back-to-back on a post, will encourage Tree Swallows to occupy one and bluebirds the other. Otherwise, the more aggressive swallows will often use a bluebird house at the expense of the bluebirds.
September 26th, 2006
.floridaconservation.org
The Barn Swallow, with its long, deeply forked tail, is the most widely distributed swallow in the world. The North American population breeds from southern Alaska and Canada to Mexico. The birds winter from Panama to South America.
Barn Swallows are found throughout Florida during migration. They are a local and increasingly common breeder across north Florida and breed in smaller numbers southward to south Florida (Stevenson and Anderson 1994).
Habitat. Barn Swallows inhabit open country, especially near water, where suitable nesting sites are available. Their diet consists primarily of small flying insects taken on the wing. Berries and seeds are occasionally eaten.
The Barn Swallow commonly nests in small colonies. Historically it nested in caves and rock crevices, but nesting is now almost exclusively on human-made structures. Throughout most of its range the Barn Swallow nests most commonly inside or under the eaves of buildings, but most colonies in Florida are located in culverts or under bridges over water. Stevenson (1978a) reports that this is the case throughout the Deep South. He suggests that nesting over water offers protection from the high temperatures encountered inside buildings during the summer.
An open cup nest is built of a mixture of mud and straw and is lined with feathers. A clutch consists of 4 or 5 white eggs, spotted with shades of brown. Both parents incubate the eggs, which hatch in about 15 days. The young fledge in 18 to 23 days.
Seasonal Occurrence. The Barn Swallow is a common to abundant migrant throughout the state. Although it has been recorded in every month of the year, it is most common from April to late May and August to October.
Two broods are usually produced each year. Extreme breeding dates given for Florida, 31 May to 11 July, may understate the breeding season (Stevenson and Anderson 1994).
Status. The Barn Swallow is a relatively recent addition to the state’s list of breeding birds. It first colonized the state by moving eastward along the Gulf coast from Alabama. It nested for the first time in the state in Escambia County in 1946 (Weston 1947). A second invasion occurred as the northern breeding population moved southward from Georgia, beginning in the 1970s.
The Barn Swallow has continued to spread throughout the state and has now nested as far south as Key West. It appears to be well established in the western Panhandle but is uncommon in the peninsula, where colonies are widely scattered. Many of the “possible” and “probable” breeding records on the Atlas map undoubtedly refer to late spring or early fall migrants and should not be considered to represent breeding birds.
Sean P. Rowe
September 22nd, 2006
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