The New House of Chirp

Last summer, the House of Chirp stood empty for the first time in 30 years, and it wasn't until I typed those words that it hit me: 30 years. That's a long time for a bird house to be in annual use. During that time, I had only one failed clutch, something else which seems like it should go in the record books. Every year after the swallows departed, I took it down and cleaned it thoroughly. But last year, there were no tenants. I don't believe the accommodations were to be blamed, but rather a shortage of swallows, reminding me that they had been on their southward migration during the peak of the California wildfires. In any event, I mentioned the lack of renters on line, and apparently, the Christmas Faerie was tuned in that day. She sent a gift of a brand-new house which I just installed this morning. I love the adjustable entryway! It can be fine-tuned to let a pudgy swallow in, but still keep nasty starlings out. I haven't seen a swallow yet, but hopefully, someone will sign the lease soon.

Empty Nest

Day 207: This is a sadness. For the first time in all the years I've lived here, the House of Chirp has not been occupied. The swallows have not returned. By this time of year, I should be seeing dozens swooping and diving, perching on wires, raising families. I have seen only seven or eight, and never more than four at a time, and those only on three or four days. What has happened? Have they succumbed to avian influenza ("bird flu")? Were they caught in the fires which occurred during their late-summer migration south? Has global warming altered their range? Whatever the reason, they are not here, and if I needed proof that the world is coming to an end, this would do it. The nest is empty, and so is my heart.

Baby Face

Day 265: The House of Chirp had a bad start this year. What may well have been a first-time pair began nesting way earlier than usual, and although they worked diligently on construction and things seemed to be progressing normally, first one and then the other parent disappeared. Several weeks went by while I resisted the temptation to check the box, and then one day, I noticed new activity. Shortly thereafter, I saw a bird emerge from the interior with a bit of eggshell (or what looked like it) in her beak, and not long after that, I was sure I was watching a pair bringing new nesting material to the house. Activity has been constant since then, and yesterday, the first brave little soul peered through the door to make his first assessment of the big world beyond. Now friends know the phrase well, so they will not be surprised to see it here. In my book, there is nothing...absolutely nothing!...cuter than baby birds. Okay, kittens come close (even when they're chewing on your leg or having to be retrieved from the mantel), but little baby birds top the list. Soon, this little fellow will be ready to take his first flight, and the House of Chirp will be empty once more.

Occupied

 

Day 180: A very strong biological imperative must have been at play here, because the House of Chirp already has renters. The first Tree Swallows to arrive acted as if they were already a mated pair, flying together consistently with wingtips almost touching. They perched on the phone wires together, and both showed interest in the "apartment." I saw the female at the door several times, but did not observe her carrying nesting material, however within a week of the time I had seen the birds initially, she had moved inside and was establishing housekeeping. It is hard to tell the male from his partner unless the light is perfect, but I believe he has been helping with the moving-in. Tachycineta bicolor typically lays a clutch of 4-6 white eggs and incubates them for roughly 13-16 days from the time the last one is laid. Young will leave the nest 16-24 days from hatching. Although not common, sometimes the pair will produce a second brood in a season.

Fledge Day

Day 256: For the last two hours, I have been sitting on the countertop with my feet in the kitchen sink watching a miracle happen. I fully expected the young Tree Swallows to fledge yesterday while I was gone, but they waited for me. This morning, I watched as each one of the SIX youngsters tumbled from the box and spread their wings in their first flight. SIX! But for rare exceptions, that is the maximum number of eggs Tachycineta bicolor lays in a clutch. I tried to capture the moment of fledging on video after the first four had launched themselves into a strange new world, but missed the crucial second as twice I fumbled for the record button on the camera while keeping my eyes on the bird in the doorway. More important to me was observing the moment of first flight. After the first three, I was surprised when a fourth head appeared in the opening, even more surprised when it vacated the house and a fifth little beak came into view. When the fifth one flew and a sixth appeared, I could hardly believe it. To the best of my knowledge, the previous record for the House of Chirp was four. The fledglings joined the parents in flight, returning to the doorway to offer chirps of encouragement to those still inside: "Look! I can do it! Flying is fun!" Of the lot, #4 was the most reluctant, taking a full half hour to decide to make the plunge. #5 was out the door ten minutes later, and #6 joined the family two minutes later. It's been a good day.

Almost Time

Day 253: Any day now, the little ones will fly the coop, and the House of Chirp will have served its purpose through another season. The parents are still delivering food directly to wide gapes, not yet trying to tempt the youngsters from the safety of the nest. This year's parents have been more protective than in years past, apparently seeing me as a threat, dive-bombing me so close that I have been struck by a wing in passing, and cursing swallow swear-words from the telephone line any time I'm in the yard. I applaud their diligence, however it might inconvenience me if I need something from the garage. In the twenty-plus years the House of Chirp has been used, only one chick failed to thrive. That's a pretty good record. So while we're on the subject of nestlings, let me say it: there is nothing...absolutely nothing!...cuter than baby birds.

Moving In

Day 199: Warm days prompted a significant uptick in swallow activity, and the pair who had been considering the House of Chirp as a suitable place for their young signed the lease and immediately began moving in their furnishings. Both the male and female Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) have been gathering dried grass and a few white feathers, and placing them inside. At this point, I have only seen the female (duller in colour) enter the box, and am assuming that the actual construction of the nest is her domain. Half a dozen small paperwasp nests were in the eave above the House and, not quite trusting that they were unoccupied, I took a long piece of PVC pipe to knock them down, keeping in mind that I might need to make a quick retreat. Fortunately, the wasps were absent, but this is something I must watch for every year to be sure there are no permanent installations. I must keep my renters safe and happy to ensure their return next year.

Home Sweet Home

Day 175: The lease has been signed! A few days ago, a solitary Tree Swallow checked out the housing situation briefly. Today, the activity level increased substantially, to the extent, I believe, of a few sticks of furnishings being moved into the House of Chirp. The phone line has been alive with a flurry of conversations, so full of chatter that even the Porch Parrots' resonant "CHURP!s" are drowned out by the gossip. On the other end of the wall, Pussywillow Cottage is still up for rent, better protected from starlings and squirrels than it has been in years past. Whether it draws any interest from prospective tenants remains to be seen.

Baby Pictures 2

 

Day 261 (bonus): This merits a second post because as you should know by now, I am of the considered opinion that there is nothing, absolutely nothing cuter than baby birds. The parents are trying very hard to get these little peanuts to take their first flight. I think they may have already drawn one out on the wing. One slightly smaller bird comes back to the House and hangs on the exterior, sometimes while Mom is at the door with a tasty bug. Nine times out of ten, she flies off with the bug still in her beak, but relents when the little chirps become insistent. Both parents make fly-bys, as if to say, "Come on, you can do it. Watch me!" But oh, the ground is a long way down when you've never felt the wind beneath your wings. I was not expecting the kids to fledge today, but it is possible that they'll be gone by evening. Fly well, my little ones!

Baby Pictures

Day 261: Mating season got off to a very bad start this spring. Only a few days after the Tree Swallows had begun looking for suitable homes, we were hit with a cold snap and several days of snow. It was almost a month before I saw another swallow investigating the House of Chirp, but eventually, a couple moved in, bringing at least two nest attendants with them. One of the attendants fell victim to a raptor only a few feet from the House, and it took me several days to assure myself that the mated pair were both still alive. Then it seemed that the House had been occupied for a long time without the sound of little chirps being heard from within. I hoped this was due to my failing hearing, but it worried me. Were the parents caring for non-viable eggs? I spent many anxious hours watching from the kitchen window for any evidence to the contrary, and eventually was rewarded by the female who emerged carrying a tiny fecal sac for disposal away from the nest. Swallows are amazingly conscientious about their housekeeping. A few days ago, a little bitty head appeared in the doorway, much to my relief. But there was a puzzle here: I still was not hearing chirps from inside the House. I was still attributing it to hearing loss when I discovered the truth of the matter. These youngsters have parents who are not only more protective than I've ever seen before, even dive-bombing me when I am 10-12 feet away from the box, but they are also very strict with their offspring. When I finally heard the long-awaited chirps, a high-pitched single note repeated several times in close succession from the phone wire behind me silenced them immediately. Dad means business when he says, "You kids shut up now!" They obey without question or argument. It won't be long now until they are ready to leave the nest, having been thoroughly schooled in how to be a Tree Swallow under the strict discipline of their parents.

Occupied

Day 211: The swallows were a week or more late in arriving this spring, and only a few days later, we were hit with an unseasonable snowfall which laid six inches on the ground. Cold temperatures and light snow persisted for over a week. The swallows disappeared, perhaps rethinking their summer vacation plans, and I did not see another one until last week. It checked out the rental options from a respectable difference, leading me to the conclusion that this was not one of my former tenants or one of their offspring, but someone new who was unfamiliar with the territory. The houses are visible from my kitchen window, allowing me to keep a fairly close eye on them for activity, and a couple of days later, a chickadee was seen investigating Pussywillow Cottage at the far end of the garage. Next, I spotted a swallow in the doorway of the House of Chirp. The lease has been signed! Now the big question is whether or not this couple will have time to raise a brood in between our current cold snap and the first heat wave of the year. Tree Swallows like the current occupants incubate their eggs for 13-16 days. The young require another 16-24 days before they are ready to leave the nest.

Sunny Beaches

Day 180: Last Monday, I woke up to an inch of snow in my yard. I commented to friends that it was rare to get more than a dusting in April and, true to form, it had melted off by mid-afternoon. This morning, I have four inches, which must surely be a record. That said, only a week has elapsed, and in the middle, we had Thursday when the thermometer peaked at 80 degrees. It's no wonder this little Junco is trying to find a safe space under the eaves! I thought he was pretty clever to take up a position on the roof of the House of Chirp after discovering that he didn't quite fit on the top of the garage door frame. Alternately, he shelters on the clothesline under my back-porch awning, another spot from which he can keep watch on the feeders or dart out for a quick lunch. I share his sentiments. I'm in a heavy sweater and wooly socks, and when I looked out over the winter-scape shortly before dawn, I too remarked on the sunny beach...or something like that, anyway.

Rent For A Song

Day 141: The House of Chirp and Pussywillow Cottage are on the market again in anticipation of the arrival of potential renters. They should be coming in on flights from the south within the next three weeks. We still have some chilly weather ahead of us, so I'm sure they'll be anxious to settle in as soon as possible. Pussywillow Cottage was unoccupied last year due to a leaky roof, but 2019 saw two clutches in the House of Chirp. I thought they might have been going for a repeat performance last year, but after raising a successful brood, the parents only made nominal attempts to refurbish their nest before deciding it was time to pack up the family and move on. I'm looking forward to seeing those cute little beakies and wide, wondering eyes again because...well, because there's nothing...absolutely nothing!...cuter than baby birds.

Maximum Occupancy

Day 247: At least one of the Tree Swallow kids fledged yesterday, for a while flying with Mom even as she returned to the House of Chirp to feed the two siblings who remained inside. Frequently, Mom presented an empty beak to the hungry youngster at the door, her way of saying, "If you want lunch, you'll have to fix it yourself." Only when the little ones' cheeping grew insistent would she deliver a bug. This is how it works. I've observed this sequence of behaviour every year of the last thirty. Only once was a fledgling too pudgy to fit through the door. He eventually made it, albeit with a great deal of struggling, and when I took the House down to clean, I enlarged the opening ever so slightly with a rasp. That said, baby swallows are not supposed to return to the nest once they've fledged, and I suppose that technically, Fledge #1 didn't..."technically" being the operative word in this sentence.

Tree Swallow parents continue to feed fledglings on the wing for a few days, but after flying around with Mom for a while, Fledge #1 seemed to think he was getting the short end of the bargain. He decided to roost on the peak of the roof, begging with open mouth as Mom returned. He stayed there for at least an hour, Mom mostly confining her feedings to the two kids still inside. Then it was almost as if a cartoon lightbulb came on over his head: "If you're outside, you don't get fed. If you're inside, you do." When I looked out the window next, there were two heads sticking out of the House of Chirp. Smart little Fledge #1 had popped inside the mother-in-law unit which has never, ever in thirty years had a bird inside it! And there he remained overnight, safe and snug. An hour and a half past dawn this morning, he popped out to fly with Mom as she resumed her efforts to extract the two youngsters still inside the main living space.

It's A Big, Big World

Day 244: There's been lots of activity at the doorway of the House of Chirp over the last few days, both parents flying in with tasty bugs to lure the kids up from the nest cup for their first look at the big, big world. And once the youngsters have seen Mom flying, their curiosity draws them to peek out time and again, siblings jostling for the prime position. "Where does she go? How does Dad catch bugs? Oh, it's a long way down!" The parents perch on the power line, calling to the kids. "Come on, you can do it!" It won't be long now before this brood takes wing. The little ones' gapes are still yellow, their head feathers dark grey. The gape colouration will change over the next two weeks, although the parents will still feed them on the wing for a while. Their feathers will grow stronger and take on the iridescent sheen of purple and green as melanin is activated, although much of what we humans perceive as feather "colour" is actually due to the microscopic structures within the feathers themselves, and not to the pigment. Within a month, the kids will look just like their parents, but a practiced eye may be able to pick out youngsters by their behaviour. After all, kids will be kids, even little birds.

From The House Of Chirp

Day 229: It won't be long before little faces begin popping up in the doorway of the House of Chirp. Mom has been making repeated trips out to capture food, and is already carrying away full-sized fecal sacs as part of her housekeeping duties. I have yet to hear the chorus of chirps which gives the House its name, but unlike human children, baby swallows mind their parents when told to hush or duck down because danger is nearby. Now as for this eggshell, it was dropped almost straight down beneath the House, landing on soft moss beside my garage door. The way the halves have separated indicate a healthy hatching. When it is time to emerge from the egg, a chick pecks a line around the widest latitude and the shell separates neatly (by bird terms, at least), held together by the thin membrane lining the interior. If a predator had opened it, it would be irregularly fractured and likely would be broken into multiple pieces. Swallows pick their nesting sites carefully. The doorway of the House of Chirp is a lightly-sanded 1 1/4", just big enough for an adult to fit through, small enough to keep the unpleasant neighbours (Starlings) out.

"Measure Twice, Cut Once"

Day 189: Inspired by a friend's artistic endeavours, I decided to give sketching another go. As I may have mentioned, the House of Chirp has new tenants. They've been moving furniture in for the last week or so, and as all of us who have moved around a lot know, sometimes the couch won't fit through the door without some serious finagling. We don't take the couch back to the store; that would be silly. We fiddle with standing it on end, turning it around the other way, maybe even taking the legs off until we can maneuver it into the house. Nor are Tree Swallows likely to discard their selection, and if a twig or feather won't fit through the hole, they try this angle and that until it goes in. Now it must be said that I had intended to make this drawing more cartoonish to suit the caption, "Measure twice, cut once...right," but as I was standing at the kitchen window with the sketchbook held up in one hand and my pencil in the other, watching the antics of the new renters, the drawing took on a style independent of what I had in mind. Once the details had resolved themselves, I sat at the kitchen table to ink and colour it. A second effort made later in the day, drawn entirely from my imagination, did not work out as well. I will not make any claims of artistic talent, but at least my ability to draw a recognizable object is improving.

Not-So-Barren Wasteland

Day 295: Although this post is nominally about the Barren Wasteland ("nominally" as in "named"), the real news comes from the House of Chirp. For the last two days, I have been expecting one or both (or more?) of the fledglings to pop out and take wing. Yesterday, it appeared so imminent that I stood for a long time at the kitchen window several times throughout the day, but as evening settled, I saw mom make one more food delivery and one empty-beaked pass as she tried to lure the kids out of the box. They were still there when I gave up the vigil, but this morning, no little beak appeared to greet me as my toast was browning, no movement disturbed the white feather visible just inside the door. I stepped outside; not a sound came from the House of Chirp. They must have flown right at dawn. Nor did I see any swallows on the wing as I scanned the sky. Be well, be safe, my little grandbirdies! There will be a clean house waiting for you next spring, a home where you or your parents can start a new family.

Now as for the Barren Wasteland, it occupies the space between my viewpoint out the kitchen window and the garage wall where the House of Chirp hangs. I cannot see much of it from the kitchen because the window is too high, although when I had tall Cosmos out there, they rose past the sill. The Rudbeckia is tall enough, but set too far east to be seen unless I lean over the sink. The Barren Wasteland is far from barren now, although when I first moved here, it was nothing but grass and weeds interrupted by the wooden lid to the captive-air tank's pit and a concrete slab of undetermined purpose. When I cleared it of undesirable vegetation and tried to plant vegs in the soil, they failed without exception. Over the years, I've thrown out packets of seeds in the hopes that something would take firm root, transplanted "unkillable" plants like the Rudbeckia and Rose Campion, and by and large, I've let it go as wild as it wanted. The result is an "English garden" style hodgepodge of colourful survivors, both native and cultivated, but the name has stuck. The Barren Wasteland will always be the Barren Wasteland, despite the fact that not a square inch of soil can be seen through the dense vegetation which now covers it.

Second Clutch

Day 291: I am almost positive that the tenants of the House of Chirp are the same ones who raised a family there earlier this year, despite what Bernd Heinrich may say in "White Feathers" regarding second clutches. He is an excellent observer and knows how to recognize his Tree Swallows by their behaviour, as do I. After the first 2020 nestlings had fledged, the resident pair returned to the box even though they were still feeding the youngsters on the wing. At one point, one of the kids entered the box on mom's heels, only to be called out by dad who was circling. Both the male and the female entered the box several times as I watched, and it soon became obvious to me that they were planning a second family. I've only had a second brood in the House of Chirp once in thirty years, and that was in 2019; this would mark the second occasion if they were successful. As you can see from this photo, there are at least two babies getting very close to fledging, identifiable as youngsters by their yellow gapes. Mom and dad are both bringing groceries, in one instance a large moth, although the bearer flew off with it again rather than feeding it to one of the young (possibly because I disturbed the process by opening the kitchen window). That said, the kids' full crops indicate that they're eating well despite the fact that the weather has been leaving them panting at the doorway. I worry about my "grandbirdies" in this heat, but relief is coming.

Curtains

Day 282: First of all, I would like to thank Patty, sister-of-the-heart, for doing things with this image my photo processing software couldn't match. The picture was taken through my dirty kitchen window because I knew that if I opened it, one of the residents would pop out through the door. Second, even before I ordered Bernd Heinrich's new book "White Feathers: The Nesting Lives of Tree Swallows," I had observed Tachycineta bicolor's preference for them. I assume the contrast helps parents find their young inside the nest. Third...well, I believe my renters are returnees from earlier this year and perhaps even from past years, and it would seem that they decided to spruce up the place by adding lace curtains. It's nice to have tenants who care about the appearance of the neighbourhood (something I can't say about either of the humans who live near me). Even though the decorating job was only temporary, it was a bright spot in my day. In other news, I am equally amused and annoyed by the three baby ravens, blue eyes and pink gapes still evident, who are trying...quite noisily...to de-moss the roof on the north side of my house. I can't be angry at them. They're kids, and as readers have heard me say time and again, "There is nothing, absolutely nothing, as cute as baby birds."