Hi all,

As our Barn Swallows were fledging, the parents built a second nest which I assumed was because they planned to double clutch and wanted a new nest. But apparently the second nest, just five feet away from the first, is just for the recently-fledged kids to spend the nights in. Now the parents are using the original nest for the second clutch.

I have a friend who hasn?t gone digital with his photography and isn?t happy with all the change coming to the whole field. He half-jokingly comments that he sees photographers getting shots with digital that ?they shouldn?t be able to get, given their skill level.? I got a shot like that today! It was of Dad Violet Green Swallow bracing himself on the nest box and feeding one of the kids. It?s not magazine quality or anything, but compared to the shots I have toiled for over the years with my 400, well it kind of shocks me how much better it is than most of those. In any case, it would immediately refute anyone who claims that Violet Green Swallows aren?t gorgeous, and it shows the violet, which I don't always see. It?s at http://www.ednewbold.com/view5.htm scroll down a bit.

Right now we have a Robin family nesting 4 ft. from the dining room window in perfect view, and in a perfect position to call us out immediately if and when the Crows come, a Chickadee family in a Swallow box on the garage, a Violet Green Swallow family on the back of the house, and a Barn Swallow family double clutching in the front.

That's the way I like it.

Well, I hope this was interesting enough for a Tweeters post. It was this or trying to sleep with the battle of Yorktown going on outside.

Ed Newbold, residential Beacon Hill, Seattle newboldwildlife at netscape.net


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