Bird Journal: Tree Swallow

The beautiful Tree Swallow.

It seems that with every visit to The Shack I see birds that I've never seen before. As I try to become better at identifying birds, I am super excited to be able to add new species to my personal bird watching list. With some help from my son during my last trip up to my spot on a West Virginia ridge, I am now able to add the Tree Swallow to bird 
watching list.

As I was driving away from The Shack during a recent visit, a bird with bright iridescent blue color caught my eye. A neighbor has many bird boxes, fruit trees, and bird feeders - an almost heaven for birds.  I always see Eastern Bluebirds in his yard. But this flash of blue was different - more vibrant. I snapped a quick photo before the bird flew off. I texted my son (I am not able to access the internet while in that area so I could not do my own internet search) and he helped me identify that it was a Tree Swallow.

My quick photo of the neighbor's yard and Tree Swallow

Tree Swallows

Tree Swallows are listed on the Cornell All About Birds page as small songbirds with pointed wings, a square tail, and a small bill. 

The map shows that West Virginia is included in their large breeding area (as much of the US and Canada). In the backyard they will utilize nest boxes. Providing properly placed and sized nest boxes will help attract these birds to your yard.

An important note from NestWatch.org is that the Tree Swallow is declining in the north-eastern US (from Virginia to Maine) and they recommend providing nest boxes with a predator guard to protect the nest. 

Tree Swallows feed on insects and berries. Planting preferred plants (such as bayberry shrubs) will also help attract these gorgeous birds to your area.  

An interesting bit of information that I hadn't thought of previously is that like chickens, other birds need extra calcium when they are producing eggs. All About Birds reports that Tree Swallows may access compost piles looking for eggshells in order to supplement their calcium levels. Such a helpful bit of information. I hadn't thought of taking egg shells up to The Shack for the wild birds.

Barn Swallows

When I spotted these little birds, I wasn't sure what they were. Their flight was similar to the Barn Swallows of my  childhood but the square tail had me confused. Swallows have long, V-shaped tails don't they? I've learned that Tree Swallows do not have that familiar tail.

Barn Swallow in flight

I loved the Barn Swallows that lived in the large barn on the farm. Their flight was amazing. And they mud nests in the open aisle of the barn were fun to spot. Momma Barn Swallow often watched me from over the edge of that mud nest.

The Competition Between Bluebirds and Tree Swallows

During my beginning research about Tree Swallows, it seems that Bluebirds and Tree Swallows will use the same size nest boxes - sometimes competing for areas. The Tree Swallow Projects has provided a very informative article about Reducing Competition Between Bluebirds and Tree Swallows. They include information on the best placement of nest boxes for both Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows. I'm glad I found that article, I had been planning on placing a 2nd bluebird nest box entirely too close to the one I have - which would have been too close to invite a 2nd bluebird family! Oh there is so much to learn. The good news is, it is possible (as the neighbor has done) to attract both Tree Swallows and Bluebirds to one backyard.

Helpful Birding Items

When I'm at the apartment and have access to a reliable internet connection, I rely on All About Birds to help identify birds and to learn about them. However, I don't have the resource available while at The Shack. I need to remember to take my copy of the DK Smithsonian Handbook Birds of North American Eastern Region to the Shack. It isn't the best field book because it is a very thick and heavy book. But it'll be great to leave up there as a reference book. The photos are large, in color, and very helpful to birding novices like myself. 

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Photograph attribution:
Intro photo - from Wikimedia Creative Commons - Public Domain - photo by Ken Thomas
Barn Swallow photo - Wikimedia Creative Commons Share Alike 2.5 generic byThermos