Cosmic Birding - an amateur bird blog
  • Bird Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Older photos
  • Butterflies

Violet-green Swallows - a local population under duress?

4/28/2014

1 Comment

 
May have mis-read the swallows behavior as antics - they migrate here to raise their young, and they are not nest builders (they use existing nest cavities).  The loss of the old apple trees impacts them greatly this year, and puts their group under incredible stress, since nesting sites are severely limited now.
Picture
I was afraid, when I came across the swallows in some intense squabbling again, that we were going to have to re-name them the "violent" green swallows...
Picture
Then I saw one was jumping up to a nest like opening in the utility pole, as another swallow immediately reacts by leaping up.   It finally became clear that the fights are about nesting, since their old tree nests are gone.

Picture
Female swallow at small possible nest hole at top of utility pole. This might not even be useable nesting site, but immediately the flock went into intense interactions with each other.
Picture
Full body contact in mid-air as the paired couples compete with other pairs in the group for a possible nesting site.
Picture
Face off in the air - tension in the group plays out in confrontations, as habitat loss threatens their nesting season.

(The old apple trees were at the end of their lives, and most were removed last year in preparation for new plantings of organic lemon trees.  The new trees won't provide much swallow nesting either for many years, until they mature.)

Picture
Another clue was they only went at it like this when they landed near this utility pole, with a possible nest hole site at the top.

Picture
Thinking it over, I got some nest boxes and put up six, mostly on the utility poles.  Not sure if it is too late already or not, but it's worth a try. 

Picture
Elsewhere in the orchards, where some of the old apple trees are still standing, a lesser goldfinch stops on a branch with blossoms.

Picture
Surprised some cedar waxwings in the old orchard area, among the apple blossoms. Most of the trees have been cleared here, but a small section remains.
Picture
Cedar waxwing and apple blossom


Picture
Starling youngster really getting big. Here is a useable nest hole in a utility pole but the starlings got it first. (Wow, they look like they have some serious housekeeping problems..like something exploded)
Picture
Allen hummingbird in the grevillea hedge still in residence.

Picture
Photogenic steller's Jay on back yard fence near Furlong Rd.
Picture
Fluffed up western bluebird at the end of a branch, lower orchard

1 Comment
Judy Brown
5/13/2014 01:14:23 am

These are wonderful photos you are doing great things with your Nikon. Beautiful exposures,composition,amazing!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Walking through
    California coastal parks and redwoods, and sometimes beyond, with a Nikon DSLR & telephoto lens (completely amateur)


    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

Proudly powered by Weebly