Moving-In Day

Day 161: Prime real estate moves fast! It's only been a week since Pussywillow Cottage and the House of Chirp became available, and already new tenants are moving in. This year's occupants are again Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), distinguished easily from Violet-Greens by the lack of white above the eye.

A few quick facts about Tree Swallows: the nest is built by the female, although both members of the pair bring nesting material to the box. During nest-building, the males can often be heard giving a liquid, gurgling call to announce their presence. The outer portion of the nest is comprised of dried grasses and moss; the interior is lined with soft feathers, preferably white, although in my personal experience, I've also seen stiff blue Steller's Jay and black Crow wing feathers used in the exterior construction. The clutch usually consists of 4-6 eggs (white), although rarely, two females may share a large box, taking shifts for incubation and brooding duties. Incubation is 13-16 days. The young hatchlings are fed by both parents. The "kids" are ready to take their first flight at 16-24 days from hatching and may be fed on the wing for a few days after fledging. This year's babies may be next year's renters, or their parents may return to the family home to raise a new brood.