[NatureNS] Fwd: Weather-related Mortality in Tree Swallows??

From: Ken McKenna <kenmcken@eastlink.ca>
Date: Fri, 01 May 2015 09:12:02 -0300
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Hi James and all
I have only seen Tree Swallows yet here in Pictou Co. My first TRSW were exc=
itedly flying around my next door neighbour's nest boxes April 15 but did no=
t seem interested in my boxes while I was observing anyway. I have seen them=
 here once since then. I think the only other location has been the outflow o=
f the power plant in Trenton where I have seen flocks of up to 17. I would a=
ssume the warmer waters from the outflow would promote more insect activity.=
=20

On average our first Barn swallows should be seen in Pictou Co today. Had my=
 first spring sighting of Chipping Sparrow at my Plymouth feeder this mornin=
g. I still have 5 American Tree Sparrows and 5 common Redpolls refusing to h=
ead north and who could blame them. I suspect they might disappear as the we=
ather warms over next few days.
Tough spring for birds.=20

Ken McKenna
Plymouth, Pictou Co.
Sent from my iPad

> On May 1, 2015, at 8:34 AM, James Churchill <jameslchurchill@gmail.com> wr=
ote:
>=20
> folks - are people seeing a similar lack of Tree Swallows in Nova Scotia d=
uring this weather system? (see below)
>=20
>=20
>=20
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Stuart Tingley <stubirdnb@gmail.com>
> Date: Thu, Apr 30, 2015 at 3:37 PM
> Subject: Weather-related Mortality in Tree Swallows??
> To: NATURENB@listserv.unb.ca
>=20
>=20
> Have you seen any Tree Swallows this week?
>=20
> To have a low-pressure system stall over our region at this time of the
> year is not that unusual but this one seems particularly intense and
> prolonged. Today marks the eighth consecutive day of cool temperatures,
> rain, drizzle, fog and moderate N and NE wind here in coastal Kent County.=

> The last four days have been particularly miserable with non-stop light
> precipitation and temperatures stuck just above the freezing mark day and
> night.
>=20
> There were getting to be good numbers of Tree Swallows across the province=

> before this weather set in but I can't imagine any swallows surviving
> locally through these conditions. I realize that central and western NB
> haven't experienced conditions as wet or cool as here along the east coast=

> so Tree Swallows may be faring OK in those regions. Of course Tree Swallow=
s
> will collect over wetlands (especially sewage lagoons!) to scoop up
> emerging insects or their larvae off the surface of the water during cold
> weather but I expect this stretch of weather has simply been too much for
> them.
>=20
> Have you seen any signs of dying or dead swallows in your area? Are you
> seeing swallows collecting at marshes / ponds / sewage lagoons? Have
> swallows disappeared in recent days from your area? Perhaps the swallow
> numbers haven't changed in your area since this weather began? I'd be
> interested in hearing any impressions you may have. Please share your
> comments with the list or send them directly to me and I'll try to
> summarize and input I receive.
>=20
> Good Birding,
>=20
> Stu Tingley
> Cocagne, NB
>=20
> NatureNB guidelines  http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbe.html
> Foire aux questions de NatureNB  http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/maryspt/nnbf.html=

>=20
>=20
>=20
> --=20
> James Churchill
> Kentville, Nova Scotia
> jameslchurchill@gmail.com
> (902) 681-2374
>=20
>=20
>=20

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<html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3D=
utf-8"></head><body dir=3D"auto"><div>Hi James and all</div><div>I have only=
 seen Tree Swallows yet here in Pictou Co. My first TRSW were excitedly flyi=
ng around my next door neighbour's nest boxes April 15 but did not seem inte=
rested in my boxes while I was observing anyway. I have seen them here once s=
ince then. I think the only other location has been the outflow of the power=
 plant in Trenton where I have seen flocks of up to 17. I would assume the w=
armer waters from the outflow would promote more insect activity.&nbsp;</div=
><div><br></div><div>On average our first Barn swallows should be seen in Pi=
ctou Co today. Had my first spring sighting of Chipping Sparrow at my Plymou=
th feeder this morning. I still have 5 American Tree Sparrows and 5 common R=
edpolls refusing to head north and who could blame them. I suspect they migh=
t disappear as the weather warms over next few days.<br>Tough spring for bir=
ds.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Ken McKenna</div><div>Plymouth, Pictou Co=
.<br>Sent from my iPad</div><div><br>On May 1, 2015, at 8:34 AM, James Churc=
hill &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:jameslchurchill@gmail.com">jameslchurchill@gmail.=
com</a>&gt; wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div><div dir=3D"l=
tr"><div>folks - are people seeing a similar lack of Tree Swallows in Nova S=
cotia during this weather system? (see below)</div><div><br></div><div><br><=
/div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<=
br>From: <b class=3D"gmail_sendername">Stuart Tingley</b> <span dir=3D"ltr">=
&lt;stubirdnb@gmail.com&gt;</span=
><br>Date: Thu, Apr 30, 2015 at 3:37 PM<br>Subject: Weather-related Mortalit=
y in Tree Swallows??<br>To: <a href=3D"mailto:NATURENB@listserv.unb.ca">NATU=
RENB@listserv.unb.ca</a><br><br><br>Have you seen any Tree Swallows this wee=
k?<br>
<br>
To have a low-pressure system stall over our region at this time of the<br>
year is not that unusual but this one seems particularly intense and<br>
prolonged. Today marks the eighth consecutive day of cool temperatures,<br>
rain, drizzle, fog and moderate N and NE wind here in coastal Kent County.<b=
r>
The last four days have been particularly miserable with non-stop light<br>
precipitation and temperatures stuck just above the freezing mark day and<br=
>
night.<br>
<br>
There were getting to be good numbers of Tree Swallows across the province<b=
r>
before this weather set in but I can't imagine any swallows surviving<br>
locally through these conditions. I realize that central and western NB<br>
haven't experienced conditions as wet or cool as here along the east coast<b=
r>
s