[obol] Nesting disasters!

[Darrel Faxon]

Shiela,
    I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but I have never seen or heard of a 
Barn Swallow entering a nest box or any other cavity nesting spot.  There is 
probably a more likely explanation for the disappearance of the Tree Swallow 
eggs.

Darrel
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "sheila chambers" <sheilach at intergate.com>
To: <obol at oregonbirdwatch.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 4:04 PM
Subject: [obol] Nesting disasters!


> The TREE-SWALLOWS in the front yard had five eggs incubating when disaster
> struck.
>
> When I did a nest check the nest looked undisterbed but all the eggs were
> gone!
>
> There were no egg shells near the nestbox so I suspect that a nearby BARN
> SWALLOW had entered the TREE-SWALLOWS nest and removed the eggs forcing 
> the
> TREE-SWALLOW to nest elsewhere.
>
> The  TREE-SWALLOW quickly built a new nest in another nestbox in the back
> yard and has several eggs in it.
>
> The BARN SWALLOW seems content to leave this nest alone.
>
> The BARN SWALLOW has a completed mud nest in the alcove by the front door.
>
> Another disaster concernes the CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES.
>
> At my previous nest check it had four cute little chicks ready to fledge 
> but
> on the day they were fledging I noticed a STELLER'S JAY and a CROW in 
> close
> proximity to the CHICKADEES nest.
>
> No young CHICKADEES  have been seen and neither has the adults been seen.
>
> When I checked the CHICKADEES nestbox, the nest was empty with no young,
> eggs or bodies inside but a STELLER'S jay came right up to me as I was
> inspecting the nest box. I guess it hoped I would flush out another
> fledgling for it to eat.
>
> The jittery VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW is now incubating it's eggs which I will
> soon count this week to check progress.
>
> A EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVE continues to call from the front sitka spruce 
> tree
> and a very cautious BREWERS BLACKBIRD sneaks in to feed it's noisy young 
> in
> the same tree.
>
> Hordes of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS continue to empty the feeders compeating 
> with
> the BREWERS-BLACKBIRDS  who think it's their crop stuffing place.
>
> A few CALIFORNIA QUAIL  have been showing up at the feeders along with
> MORNING DOVES, PURPLE FINCHES, HOUSE FINCHES, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS,
> AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS and ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS.
>
> ROBINS sing in the early morning while the SWAINSON'S THRUSH sings in the
> evening.
>
> Outside a robin sings and  wispy cirris clouds drift high overhead on this
> lovely warm late spring day.
>
> Sheila from sunny Harbor Oregon
>
>
>
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