[NatureNS] White Point Birds

From: "Judy" <tandove@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
References: <16A31B63533C4A44B71B8E7CC9D1D8C1@Millard>
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2016 17:28:21 -0300
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Hello Marg:
Last year I too had a Tree Swallow's nest box that had a similar ending with
abandonment. Knowing that there were young in the nest by mid-June but
adults had not been seen around the nest box for some days, I went to
investigate.  There were three nestlings in the box and two unhatched eggs,
tragically the nestlings were either dying or already dead. They were
featherless and still had their eyes closed.  The largest of the nestlings -
almost twice the size of its siblings - was on top of the others, having
great difficulties just breathing and appeared to be close to death. It was
painful to see. We never saw the adults again. 

This was the first time my swallow box had a failure in the many years I
have been monitoring it but with a fair amount of rain during the swallow's
breeding season here, flying insect numbers were not easily come by.

Judy Tufts


>>>>>>>>>
 Judy Tufts 
Wolfville NS
<<<<<<<<<
-----Original Message-----
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca]
On Behalf Of Marg Millard
Sent: April-22-16 11:14 AM
To: naturens
Subject: [NatureNS] White Point Birds

Good morning. What a glorious morning it is, too. T-shirt weather complete 
with flies and Tree Swallows. We now have three here. Steve cleaned the 
houses on the weekend past and we found some interesting things. There was a

lot of squabbling over the houses. It seems someone moved in then out then 
it all happened again. This is at the Barn house on the pole. The nesting 
material was quite extensive for Swallows. It had been cleaned before and so

it was all fresh from the arrivals in the spring (2015). It appeared there 
were at least 3 nests, on atop another and each had multiple white feathers.

He dumped it in the firplase. I should have gotten photos. Quite 
interesting. Another house that I have photos of nesting material going in, 
had nothing. Now Chickadees may have cleaned that out and stayed in there 
over the winter but we could not tell. The third house when it first went up

over the grapevine, close to the house, produced a family or two then we had

chicks that were almost ready to fledge and were abandoned. They died 
slowly. Last year we had at least two chicks, not well developed. Steve said

just basically beaks. no feathers. So I remember there being two birds then 
one bird then no birds.
We don't know why this happened obviously. Last spring we did have a very 
loud Thunderstorm right overhead after the nesting began so I wonder if it 
was percussion? Does anyone know if that could damage newly hatched chicks? 
I guess we will never know.
I have been thinking I should replace the house, maybe there is something 
wrong with it but that first season there were 4 birds off. Maybe the parent

birds are just unaware like we have in the human species.
Had a GBHeron at the marsh beside the 5 River outlet in the Estates. I 
haven't seen the Kingfisher  there yet but I think I saw it fly across in 
the distance from my kitchen window. There are thrushes at the edge of the 
golf course and the road into the Estates and  I was told by a woman at the 
bank yesterday there were 2 hummingbirds feeding at her mothers place on 
Crowell St, in the subdivision up behind the new Middle School in Liverpool.
Wow is it great; we made it to another spring!
There are dandelions blooming under my clothes line and I can smell 
Mayflowers on the air.
If you are visiting Saltscapes Expo please drop by the White Point Beach 
resort to say hello. I am their resident artist working Sat. 1 - 4 ish. I 
love meeting you all since I don't get to the meetings.
Best regards
Marg


Marg Millard
19 White Point 2 Rd., White Point, Queens Co.,
R.R. # 1 Hunts Point,
Nova Scotia , Canada
(902) 683-2393 MargMillard.ca
Facebook: White Point Artist, Marg Millard. 


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