New life outside our front door
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One spring, a swallow built a mud nest in the corner of our patio. Three baby birds were cheeping their heads off and keeping mama busy. Then one evening, I see a rat snake with three bulges leaving the area. No bird ever tried to reuse the nest, so we eventually cleaned it up.
I'm surprised that a swallows build nests on your patio. All the swallows I know of around here, build their nests high up, under the eaves or in tall trees. (Swallow's nest[^].) As kids we always wondered how the chicks could learn to fly - how they managed to return to the nest after the first attempt, to make a second one. (I believe the answer is that the parents grab them in their beak and lift them up to the nest.) Wikipedia (Norwegian) says there are 86 different swallows, only 4 of them in Norway. They are not all like ours. Maybe those who nest on patios could learn something from the Norwegian ones :-)
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I'm surprised that a swallows build nests on your patio. All the swallows I know of around here, build their nests high up, under the eaves or in tall trees. (Swallow's nest[^].) As kids we always wondered how the chicks could learn to fly - how they managed to return to the nest after the first attempt, to make a second one. (I believe the answer is that the parents grab them in their beak and lift them up to the nest.) Wikipedia (Norwegian) says there are 86 different swallows, only 4 of them in Norway. They are not all like ours. Maybe those who nest on patios could learn something from the Norwegian ones :-)
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For the last few days we've spotted a young Barred Owlet on a tree not 20 feet from our front door. We spotted a large opening in the tree, it's been dropping limbs for a while now and I had considered taking it down but since spotting the owlett[^] I think I'll leave it. Th3y are known to use the same nest for many years, so until it gets unusable I'll leave it. It's been sitting on a limb not far from the opening and today it's started doing the I wanna fly dance. The parents have been coming around but they are more weary of us and fly away when we approach. Pretty neat watching the young owlet get ready for a new life.
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Mike Hankey wrote:
and I had considered taking it down but since spotting the owlett[^] I think I'll leave it.
If you identified it correctly then you don't have a choice. That type of owl is covered under the US migratory bird act and as such you cannot do anything to it. So hopefully that tree lasts until they fly off.
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Mike Hankey wrote:
and I had considered taking it down but since spotting the owlett[^] I think I'll leave it.
If you identified it correctly then you don't have a choice. That type of owl is covered under the US migratory bird act and as such you cannot do anything to it. So hopefully that tree lasts until they fly off.
The last couple of days the chicks (we found that there are 2 of them) have matured, their feathers have darkened and they are no longer around nest as much. When I said take the tree down I didn't mean while they were nesting, I would not do that. The tree is in very bad shape and I was going to take it down after they were done with it. But since the Barred Owl uses the same nest year after year I will leave it until it can no longer be used. Probably won't be long!
Give me coffee to change the things I can and wine for those I can not! PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: Simon Says, A Child's Game
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The last couple of days the chicks (we found that there are 2 of them) have matured, their feathers have darkened and they are no longer around nest as much. When I said take the tree down I didn't mean while they were nesting, I would not do that. The tree is in very bad shape and I was going to take it down after they were done with it. But since the Barred Owl uses the same nest year after year I will leave it until it can no longer be used. Probably won't be long!
Give me coffee to change the things I can and wine for those I can not! PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: Simon Says, A Child's Game
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They will use it as long as it is standing. I don't think they can figure out 'next wind storm this is coming down'. On the other hand your house/shed/car/head might not be as forgiving if the tree comes down on it.
The tree has slowing been coming apart for the last couple of years. We've had 4 dome down in the last 3 years so it's just a matter of time. No structures are in danger if it does come down.
Give me coffee to change the things I can and wine for those I can not! PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: Simon Says, A Child's Game
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The tree has slowing been coming apart for the last couple of years. We've had 4 dome down in the last 3 years so it's just a matter of time. No structures are in danger if it does come down.
Give me coffee to change the things I can and wine for those I can not! PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: Simon Says, A Child's Game
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It would take a small tree house. They are big birds!
Give me coffee to change the things I can and wine for those I can not! PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: Simon Says, A Child's Game
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It would take a small tree house. They are big birds!
Give me coffee to change the things I can and wine for those I can not! PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: Simon Says, A Child's Game
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Yes, they keep rodent population down.
Give me coffee to change the things I can and wine for those I can not! PartsBin an Electronics Part Organizer - An updated version available! JaxCoder.com Latest Article: Simon Says, A Child's Game
