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Hi Paul & All, Apr 2, 2012
I don't doubt the necessity of mud but, based on my memory, the mud =
need not be near the barn.
When I was a kid in Cambridge Sta., Kings Co., we always had nests =
of Swallows in the barn (late 30.s to mid 40's,barn often not used, i.e. =
without livestock) and on the rafters of an open veranda.
I assume these were barn swallows; nest were made of mud, possibly =
from a neighbour's farm pond several hundred yards away, as the Swallow =
flies, or a nearby Alder swamp. Late in the war we had livestock again =
but the soil near the barn (well drained Cornwallis Sandy Loam) was not =
mud friendly and, with few exceptions, cattle passed through the yard =
twice a year; once on the way to pasture and once on the way back.
The Swallows also used a lot of hair in their nests (probably to =
increase stability). This they collected by dive-bombing our dog and =
cats and grabbing a beak full before swooping up out of reach.
Just an aside about cattle & mud. About 1957-58 I found a relatively =
dry mud area pocked with deep cattle tracks; tracks had clearly been =
made when the soil was very wet and had subsequently dried. Virtually =
every track was lined with a felt of tiny Blueberry (Vaccinium) =
seedlings. Presumably these seed would have been washed into this muddy =
depression, either from decaying berries or from bird droppings.=20
I have wondered since then if the word Vaccinium (of cattle) is =
directly related to the ability of Blueberry to germinate especially =
well on cow pocked mud [and subsequent spreading by rhizomes to higher =
ground in cow pastures].=20
Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
=20
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Paul MacDonald=20
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2012 6:45 PM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Barn Swallow Locations?
Hi Liz
Gordon Drysdale, of singing fame, has a barn at Wallace
which has a good population and he is very helpful showing them =
around.
The thing to look for is cattle near a barn, they make mud with their =
feet which the swallows
use to make nests. When the cows are gone, so are the swallows alas.
Good luck
Paul
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----
From: Elizabeth Campbell <E.Campbell@DAL.CA>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
Sent: Monday, April 2, 2012 1:23:44 PM
Subject: [NatureNS] Barn Swallow Locations?
Hello All
I am a Biology student at Dalhousie and will be doing a research =
project this summer on barn swallows, looking at what areas they use for =
nesting, what characteristics are important in where they build their =
nests, and how many are reusing old nests from previous years. My hope =
is that what I learn can be applied to their conservation and increase =
population numbers. If anyone knows the location of breeding barn =
swallows, especially around Halifax, and wouldn't mind sharing I'd =
really appreciate the help. Information can be sent to me at =
E.Campbell@dal.ca
Note that I won't be disturbing the swallows in any way, just =
observing from a distance.
Thank you in advance,
Liz Campbell
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<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Hi Paul & All, =
=20
Apr 2, 2012</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2> I don't doubt the necessity of =
mud but,=20
based on my memory, the mud need not be near the barn.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2> When I was a kid in Cambridge =
Sta., Kings=20
Co., we always had nests of Swallows in the barn (late 30.s to mid =
40's,barn=20
often not used, i.e. without livestock) and on the rafters of an open=20
veranda.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2> I assume these were barn =
swallows; nest=20
were made of mud, possibly from a neighbour's farm pond several hundred =
yards=20
away, as the Swallow flies, or a nearby Alder swamp. Late in the war we =
had=20
livestock again but the soil near the barn (well drained Cornwallis =
Sandy Loam)=20
was not mud friendly and, with few exceptions, cattle passed =
through the=20
yard twice a year; once on the way to pasture and once on the way=20
back.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2> The Swallows also used a lot of =
hair in=20
their nests (probably to increase stability). This they collected by=20
dive-bombing our dog and cats and grabbing a beak full before swooping =
up out of=20
reach.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2> Just an aside about cattle & =
mud. About=20
1957-58 I found a relatively dry mud area pocked with deep cattle =
tracks;=20
tracks had clearly been made when the soil was very wet and had =
subsequently=20
dried. Virtually every track was lined with a felt of tiny Blueberry =
(Vaccinium)=20
seedlings. Presumably these seed would have been washed into this muddy=20
depression, either from decaying berries or from bird droppings. =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2> I have wondered since then if the =
word=20
Vaccinium (of cattle) is directly related to the ability of Blueberry to =
germinate especially well on cow pocked mud [and subsequent spreading by =
rhizomes to higher ground in cow pastures]. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2> &a