 |
|
|
|
BIRD HOUSING
Birdhouses for Tree Swallows
 | | Tree Swallow |
|
To attract nesting Tree Swallows, follow the birdhouse guidelines below. Tree Swallows nest across most of the United States and Canada. Violet-green Swallows, found only in the west, will also use this type of birdhouse.
Dimensions
A birdhouse for Tree Swallows should have a 1 1/2 inch diameter hole and a floor size of 4 inches x 4 inches to 5 inches x 5 inches. The total height of the box should be about 9 to 10 inches, and the height of the hole above the floor should be about 7 to 8 inches. The house should be constructed of wood and have no perch.
Mounting
Mount the box 5 to 6 feet high, on a metal pole with a baffle on it to keep predators, such as raccoons, from climbing to the birdhouse. A baffle can be a metal stove pipe, a metal cone that is at least 18 inches in diameter, or a length of PVC pipe that goes from the ground to the bottom of the birdhouse and slips over the mounting pole. Make sure and put a cap on the top of the stove pipe or PVC pipe, to prevent any birds from entering them. You can paint the PVC pipe green or brown if you wish.
Competition
Other species of birds such as bluebirds, chickadees, and titmice might also use this birdhouse. You can put a second birdhouse about 10 feet away from the first one, facing in the opposite direction. A Tree Swallow will defend a small circle around its nestbox from other Tree Swallows, but will not mind if another species of bird nests in the second birdhouse.
Placement
Put Tree Swallow birdhouses in open habitats, such as fields, meadows, lawns, or open woods. They especially like to nest near lakes, rivers, ponds, or the ocean.
Nesting
Tree Swallows make grass nests lined with feathers and incubate their 4 to 6 white eggs for about 2 weeks. The young fledge from the nest after about 20 days and are strong flyers when they leave. Clean out the old nest material after they are gone.
|
|
|
