Second Post= April 4, 2009

Studies have provided interesting results on the breeding behavior of Tree Swallows. At Long Point Bird Observatory in Canada, they have conducted studies over 22 years. Results have shown:

• Egg laying occurs later in cold springs and is usually 3-5 days later at the Tip of Long Point than on the mainland, because the proximity of Lake Erie results in cooler spring temperatures at the Tip.
  
• The number of eggs laid (clutch size, usually 4-7 eggs) by female Tree Swallows depends on the abundance of insects available to them prior to laying.
  
• Many adult swallows return year after year to the same site, sometimes to the same nest-box, and some of their young also return.
  
• Few Tree Swallows live more than six years, but one female banded at the tip of the point lived for 11 years. She bred at Long Point in at least 10 years from 1970 to 1980. She held the world record for Tree Swallow longevity until 1998 when a 12 year-old male was found at the Sewage Lagoon.
  
• Young Tree Swallows grow faster at the Lagoon, where insects are more abundant than at other sites where food is scarce.

Placing Nest Boxes for Tree Swallows (specifically TS–NOT other birds)

RULES FOR TREE SWALLOW NEST BOX PLACEMENT:

• Place boxes on poles out in the middle of open fields.
  
• Space boxes at least 100 feet apart.
  
• Keep boxes 50 YARDS away from bodies of water, if possible.
  
• Keep boxes as far away as possible, at least 100 YARDS, from houses and
  barns.
  
• Keep boxes as far away as possible from trees and bushes.
  
• Keep boxes away from wood edges, hedgerows, fences, and ditches.
  
• Keep boxes away from roads and other areas people can approach easily.
  
• Mount boxes so holes are between 5 1/2 and 6 feet off the ground.
  
• Position boxes so holes face south, southeast, or east.
  
• Protect each box with a predator guard.
  

NEVER, EVER put a box right next to a body of water!!!
Keep boxes at least 50 YARDS back from bodies of water if you can.

Don’t mount a swallow nest box on a tree or fence!

Just some info for you!

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 4th, 2009 at 4:09 pm and is filed under Joni James. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.