[NatureNS] Tree Swallow box contents for 2014 season

DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed;
References: <SNT146-W86951D64C24A936F1EB4A8B7FC0@phx.gbl>
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2015 04:15:51 -0300
From: Ron Wilson <solidago123@gmail.com>
To: Nature NS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <naturens-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects

=3B&amp;nbsp=3BMost nest box websites say you should leave about 100'
--f46d043be25ef5ee730513456a23
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Thanks for all the great information Fritz. Very helpful and interesting..

Ron Wilson
Somerset NS

On Wed, Apr 8, 2015 at 4:29 PM, Fritz McEvoy <fritzmcevoy@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>   Hi All,
>       One of the benefits of so much snow on the ground is that I've been
> able check and clean out my swallow boxes of last summers nests and
> prepared them for this years breeding season without much use of ladders.
> The 2014 nesting season was successful; despite a lack of much obvious
> swallow activity last summer. I had 23 boxes available last year. The 24th
>  box had an active Flying Squirrel nest, at the time, and was left
> uncleaned.
>     The results for 2014 were:
> 13 boxes with completed nests and signs of breeding. (1 nest had an
> unhatched egg)
>   1 box with completed nest and signs of breeding + Red Squirrel nest
>   1 box with completed nest*+ active Flying Squirrel nest. (nest left in
> place)
>   2 boxes with completed nests and no sign of breeding.
>   2 boxes with partial nests
>   1 box with partial nest + Red Squirrel nest
>   3 boxes with Flying Squirrel nests (1 left uncleaned from last season)
>   1 empty box
>
> *I didn't check for breeding evidence, as box was occupied by a Flying
> Squirrel who was reluctant to leave, but this box almost always has a
> breeding pair of swallows.
>
>       I'm adding 6+/- new boxes this spring and have had to repair and
> even replace a few old ones that are worse for wear. Once again, a much
> easier job when the boxes are at chest high or lower.
>       I've been following the thread on swallow box hole size and have a
> few points to add about my experiences with building and using swallow
> boxes where I live - in the CB highlands. I use a 1-1/2" hole and have
> found no problems with Starlings using the boxes. They occasionally check
> out the boxes but I've never had a pair attempt to breed in one. I often
> get squirrels using the boxes but they tend to chew the hole until it's big
> enough for them to fit in.
>        The box size is important but not crucial. I use a 5"x5" floor and
> always leave at least 6" from the hole to the floor to dissuade predators,
> like Blue Jays, from reaching the eggs or chicks by sticking their heads in
> the box entrance hole. I build my boxes out of old, mostly salvaged and
> weathered wood. This gives them a more natural look and I never use
> paint. My boxes are hung in the 7'-12' range but, as far as I can tell, no
> height is preferred.
>        Most nest box websites say you should leave about 100' between
> boxes but I have many of them much closer (25'-50') and it doesn't seem to
> matter. I attach many of my boxes to live trees (apple, birch, popular
> etc.) and as long as you trim away branches around the box and there is an
> open flyway to enter the box they seem to work well.  Having a good tree
> swallow habitat (open fields, nearby water etc.) is important but you can't
> normally do much about that. The only rule I always follow is to mount the
> box facing away from the prevailing wind. In my case that's NW; so my boxes
> all face east to south.
>       Hope this helps. All the best.
>                  Fritz McEvoy
>                   Sunrise Valley, CB (near Dingwall)
>
>
>

--f46d043be25ef5ee730513456a23
Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<div dir=3D"ltr">Thanks for all the great information Fritz. Very helpful a=
nd interesting..<div><br></div><div>Ron Wilson</div><div>Somerset NS</div><=
/div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Wed, Apr =
8, 2015 at 4:29 PM, Fritz McEvoy <span dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:fr=
itzmcevoy@hotmail.com" target=3D"_blank">fritzmcevoy@hotmail.com</a>&gt;</s=
pan> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex=
;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">


<div><div dir=3D"ltr">


<div dir=3D"ltr">


<div dir=3D"ltr">


<div dir=3D"ltr">Hi All,<br>=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 =C2=A0 One of the benefits o=
f so much snow on the ground is that I&#39;ve=C2=A0been able=C2=A0check and=
 clean out my swallow boxes of last summers nests and prepared them for thi=
s years breeding season without=C2=A0much use of ladders. The 2014 nesting =
season was=C2=A0successful; despite=C2=A0a lack of much obvious swallow act=
ivity last summer.=C2=A0I had 23 boxes available=C2=A0last year. The 24th =
=C2=A0box had an active Flying=C2=A0Squirrel nest, at the time,=C2=A0and wa=
s left uncleaned.=C2=A0<br>=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 The results for 2014=C2=A0wer=
e:<br>13 boxes with completed=C2=A0nests and signs of=C2=A0breeding. (1 nes=
t had an unhatched egg)<br>=C2=A0=C2=A01 box with completed nest and signs =
of breeding + Red Squirrel nest<br>=C2=A0 1 box with completed nest*+ activ=
e=C2=A0Flying Squirrel nest. (nest left in place)<br>=C2=A0 2=C2=A0boxes wi=
th=C2=A0completed nests and no sign of breeding.<br>=C2=A0 2 boxes with par=
tial nests<br>=C2=A0 1 box with partial nest + Red Squirrel nest<br>=C2=A0=
=C2=A03 boxes with Flying Squirrel nests (1 left uncleaned from last season=
) <br>=C2=A0 1 empty box</div><div dir=3D"ltr">=C2=A0</div><div dir=3D"ltr"=
>*I didn&#39;t check for=C2=A0breeding evidence, as box was occupied by a F=
lying Squirrel who was reluctant to leave,=C2=A0but this box almost always =
has a breeding pair of swallows.</div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br>=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=
=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 I&#39;m adding 6+/- new boxes this spring and have had to r=
epair and even replace a few old ones that are worse for wear. Once again, =
a much easier=C2=A0job when the boxes are at chest high or lower.<br>=C2=A0=
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 I&#39;ve been following the thread on swallow box =
hole size and have a few points to add about my experiences with building a=
nd using=C2=A0swallow boxes where I live - in the CB highlands. I use a 1-1=
/2&quot; hole and have found no problems with Starlings using the boxes. Th=
ey occasionally check out the boxes but I&#39;ve never had=C2=A0a pair=C2=
=A0attempt to breed in one. I often get squirrels using the boxes but they =
tend to chew=C2=A0the hole until it&#39;s big enough for them=C2=A0to fit i=
n.<br>=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 The=C2=A0box size is important b=
ut not crucial. I use a 5&quot;x5&quot;=C2=A0floor and always leave at leas=
t 6&quot; from the hole to the floor to dissuade predators, like Blue Jays,=
=C2=A0from reaching the eggs or chicks by sticking their heads in the box e=
ntrance hole. I build my boxes out of old, mostly salvaged and weathered wo=
od. This gives them a=C2=A0more natural look and I never=C2=A0use paint.=C2=
=A0My boxes are hung=C2=A0in the 7&#39;-12&#39;=C2=A0range but, as far as I=
 can tell,=C2=A0no height is=C2=A0preferred. </div><div dir=3D"ltr">=C2=A0=
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0Most nest box websites say you should l=
eave about 100&#39; between boxes but I have many of=C2=A0them much closer=
=C2=A0(25&#39;-50&#39;) and it doesn&#39;t seem to matter. I attach many of=
 my boxes to live trees (apple, birch, popular etc.)=C2=A0and as long as yo=
u trim away branches around the box and there is an open flyway to enter th=
e box they seem to work well.=C2=A0 Having a good tree swallow habitat (ope=
n fields, nearby water etc.)=C2=A0is important but you can&#39;t normally=
=C2=A0do much about that.=C2=A0The only rule I always=C2=A0follow is to mou=
nt the box facing away from the prevailing wind. In my case=C2=A0that&#39;s=
 NW; so my boxes all face east to south.</div><div dir=3D"ltr">=C2=A0=C2=A0=
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 Hope this helps. All the best.</div><span class=3D"HOEnZ=
b"><font color=3D"#888888"><div dir=3D"ltr">=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 Fritz Mc=
Evoy</div><div dir=3D"ltr">=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0 Sunrise Valley, CB (=
near Dingwall)<br>=C2=A0<br>=C2=A0<br></div>
</font></span></div>
</div>
 		 	   		  </div></div>
</blockquote></div><br></div>

--f46d043be25ef5ee730513456a23--

next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects