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A Swallow question
ShepherdsBarn
Posts: 401
We have had several swallows nesting in various places around us, including the two front porches over the past 15 years or so. They arrive very early in April (it was the 11th this year, so a bit later than usual) and spend several weeks before deciding to nest. They often re-use nests from previous years, though some years they have 'ignored' the nests completely. This year they re-used an old nest in the front porch ... after clearing the moss which a wren had added when using it earlier; but they didn't start nesting until late June/early July.
Why do they leave it so late after their return, to start nesting?
Last Tuesday we found a swallow egg which had been 'placed' on an alchemilla leaf just outside the other porch. We wondered how it had got there; then we noticed that the swallows were re-using the nest in that porch! They must have cleaned out the old nest, which hasn't been used for years. They have so little time left to hatch and rear another brood ... again, WHY do they leave it so late? The poor little fledglings will surely not be strong enough for the long flight back to Africa!
This is the first time for a few years that either of these nests have been used. There are also several nests in the stable which seem to have been abandoned for a couple of years.
Does anyone else experience this with swallows?
Why do they leave it so late after their return, to start nesting?
Last Tuesday we found a swallow egg which had been 'placed' on an alchemilla leaf just outside the other porch. We wondered how it had got there; then we noticed that the swallows were re-using the nest in that porch! They must have cleaned out the old nest, which hasn't been used for years. They have so little time left to hatch and rear another brood ... again, WHY do they leave it so late? The poor little fledglings will surely not be strong enough for the long flight back to Africa!
This is the first time for a few years that either of these nests have been used. There are also several nests in the stable which seem to have been abandoned for a couple of years.
Does anyone else experience this with swallows?
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p02tfhrt
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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Swallows overwintering in Britain rather than migrating back to Africa | Discover Wildlife
For normal migration this spring was a bit strange. Much of Spain & Portugal had an unusually prolonged period of bad weather that acted as a blocker for a while resulting in late arrivals to our shores and possibly quite a few fatalities / missing partners etc.
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
Last year there were very few swallows around and none nested on our property. It was sad to see so few swallows getting ready to fly off in the autumn. This year there are loads of swallows in the neighbourhood. 😃 We always feel very 'honoured' when they nest in the porch ... despite the unholy mess they make of it! 🤦🏼♀️
I think you could well be right about the swallows being new. We do have 2 cats who have shown interest in them, but they get shouted at so much if they dare to go near the porch that they have given up, it seems! 😅 When the cats are about and the swallows want to return to the porch the birds make such a lot of noise, we rush out to get the cats in or out of the way; we are always watching out for them. Yes, you're so right, we are very lucky to have them.