Subject: Re: Swallows feeding young
Date: Jul 18 16:07:16 1998
From: Angelambry at aol.com - Angelambry at aol.com


In a message dated 98-07-18 02:47:14 EDT, 73201.3124 at compuserve.com writes:

<< Our swallow box suddenly became empty yesterday. >>
Our two barn swallow nests also became empty two weeks ago in the San Juan
Islands. The box first and next the nest by our back door. I noticed that the
mother bird fed one bird more than the others towards the end and that this
was the first bird trying its wings, anchored to the nest and the first to
fledge. What a thrill to see the first "solo flight" across the whole length
of the meadow for about 10 minutes and then back to the nest with, may I say,
queried looks and beak touching from the others.
I often wondered why a mother might feed one swallow more than the other and
didn't think it had to do completely with the bigger being the first hatched
and stronger. Must be easier on the mom to have only one fledgling at a time
out and the periods of roominess in the nest for the others a relief or is
this just a human mother's perspective?
I had to leave for Seattle before I got to study them in the field together. I
know that in other years they would be lined up on the telephone wires where
the mother fed them. Now that the wires are underground, I've been wondering
where they might go or how they might transition into feeding on the wing.
<<Gee, they didn't even say goodbye..>>
They should be back. I heard that the swallows mark their nest with a white
feather so that when others come to the nest they know it is taken. How true
is this? I saw a pair last summer after one set had fledged, come to the nest
and while the female, chirped and chattered and tried the nest out for size,
turning all around, the male quietly stood on the rim of the nest looking up,
down and around. Then just "gaped" (beak wide open for a bit, no sound), the
female flew away and the male went into the nest and picked up a white feather
in the nest, put it back down and then flew away as well. I did not see any
birds there until this spring when the nest was reclaimed perhaps by the
original owners(?).

Angela M Bryant
Seattle, WA
Angelambry at aol.com
"I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me." (Paul), Philippians 4:13
(NKJV)