It appears it has been a good year for Barn Swallows. There are 34 sitting on the power line going to my barn this morning. They maybe getting ready to head south. They have been very active zooming around and into the barn the last week.
They first arrived on May 6, 2014. There were about 6 to 8 pair. It is good to see so many ready to head south. I don't know the survival rate. It will be interesting to get a final count before they leave and count how many make it back in the spring. It is hard to do a full count and decide when they leave for warmer territory. It just happens. They do disappear for a day or so and come back. One day I realize they are gone by the stark silence with no chattering coming from the power line.... And, they have not come back for more than a few days. It is then I decide they have headed south.
The numbers of Barn Swallows have fallen off the last few years. There have been as high as 12 to 16 pair in the spring 2011 and only about 6 pair coming back in 2012. The winter of 2011-2012 was a hard migration for my barn swallows.
I have 16 boxes for Tree Swallows with all filled this year. They have all moved on to buggier places I assume. They usually meet up here before they head south about 2 to 3 weeks after the Barn Swallows head south.
Cheers to the Barn Swallows. May they have safe migrations and winter.
Allan
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