[NatureNS] Sandy Lake (near Tantallon, HRM) bank swallow colony ?

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On Fri, May 17, 2013 at 6:16 AM, Dusan Soudek <soudekd@ns.sympatico.ca>wrote:
>
>     But this trenching seems to have stopped years ago, the vertical
> surfaces gradually disappeared, and so have the nesting swallows. I doubt
> very much that motorized vehicles are to blame. Does anyone on NatureNS
> have any information on the above bank swallow colony and on former steps
> to maintain it?
>    Dusan Soudek
>

The site was reasonably well-protected by Bowater, with large boulders in
place that made it awkward for ATV access, and warning signs (since gone,
though the boulders remain).

Despite these precautions the colony declined in size, concurrent with the
decline in swallows across the province.  I do not believe the ATVs were
much to blame.  I saw 8 birds at the colony in 2005, and a single bird in
2006.  None since, though I saw a single bird over Sandy Lake in 2008.

The piles of sawdust have been used through the years by one or two pair of
kingfishers as well, though I haven't checked recently.

Cheers,

Blake


-- 
Blake Maybank <bmaybank@gmail.com>
White's Lake, Nova Scotia


My Blog:  *CSI: Life* <http://blakemaybank.com>
Organiser, *Maritimes Nature Travel Club* <http://tinyurl.com/naturetravel>

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<div class=3D"gmail_quote"><font size=3D"4">On Fri, May 17, 2013 at 6:16 AM=
, Dusan Soudek <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:soudekd@ns.sympatico=
.ca" target=3D"_blank">soudekd@ns.sympatico.ca</a>&gt;</span> wrote:</font>=
<blockquote style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex;border-left-=
color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid" class=
=3D"gmail_quote">


<div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div style=3D"font-family:&quot;Calibri&q=
uot;"><font size=3D"4">
</font><div><font size=3D"4">=A0=A0 But this trenching seems to have stoppe=
d years ago, the=20
vertical surfaces gradually disappeared, and so have the nesting swallows. =
I=20
doubt very much that motorized vehicles are to blame. Does anyone on Nature=
NS=20
have any information on the above bank swallow colony and on former steps t=
o=20
maintain it?</font></div><span><font color=3D"#888888"><font size=3D"4">
</font><div><font size=3D"4">=A0=A0 Dusan Soudek</font></div></font></span>=
</div></div></div></blockquote><div><font size=3D"4"></font>=A0</div><div><=
font size=3D"4">The site was reasonably well-protected by Bowater, with lar=
ge boulders in place that made it awkward for ATV access, and warning signs=
 (since gone, though the boulders remain).=A0 </font></div>


<div><font size=3D"4"></font>=A0</div><div><font size=3D"4">Despite these p=
recautions the colony declined in size, concurrent with the decline in swal=
lows across the province.=A0 I do not believe the ATVs were much to blame.=
=A0 I saw 8 birds at the colony in 2005, and a single bird in 2006.=A0 None=
 since, though I saw a single bird over Sandy Lake in 2008.</font></div>


<div><font size=3D"4"></font>=A0</div><div><font size=3D"4">The piles of sa=
wdust have been used through the years by one or two pair of kingfishers as=
 well, though I haven&#39;t checked recently.</font></div><div><font size=
=3D"4"></font>=A0</div>


<div><font size=3D"4">Cheers,=A0 </font></div><div><font size=3D"4"></font>=
=A0</div><div><font size=3D"4">Blake</font><br><br clear=3D"all"><br>-- <br=
><font size=3D"4"><a href=3D"mailto:bmaybank@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">B=
lake Maybank</a><br>




White&#39;s Lake, Nova Scotia<br>

</font><br>
<font size=3D"4"><br>My Blog:=A0 <a href=3D"http://blakemaybank.com" target=
=3D"_blank"><b>CSI: Life</b></a><span onmouseout=3D"cancel =3D false; windo=
w.setTimeout(WRCHideContent, 1000); clearTimeout(showTimer);" onmouseover=
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ontent({&#39;rating&#39;:{&#39;value&#39;:-1,&#39;weight&#39;:-1},&#39;flag=
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9;20130526205549&#39;}, self.className)},600);" class=3D"wrc0" style=3D"pad=
ding-right:16px;width:16px;height:16px"></span><span style=3D"width:16px;mi=
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Organiser, <a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/naturetravel" target=3D"_blank"><b=
>Maritimes Nature Travel Club</b></a><span onmouseout=3D"cancel =3D false; =
window.setTimeout(WRCHideContent, 1000); clearTimeout(showTimer);" onmouseo=
ver=3D" var self =3D this; showTimer =3D window.setTimeout(function(){WRCSh=
owContent({&#39;rating&#39;:{&#39;value&#39;:70,&#39;weight&#39;:40},&#39;f=
lags&#39;:{},&#39;single&#39;:true,&#39;ttl&#39;:7200,&#39;expireTime&#39;:=
&#39;20130526205549&#39;}, self.className)},600);" class=3D"wrc12" style=3D=
"padding-right:16px;width:16px;height:16px"></span><span style=3D"width: