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Our swallows have had babies!

Posted: Sun May 14, 2017 9:42 pm
by Dominic
No photos yet, but the swallows in our rafters now have some little mouths to feed. This does of course mean that our alarm clock will be somewhat noisier and louder, but that is a small price to pay to be able to watch these beautiful birds raise their family just outside our bedroom.

Re: Our swallows have had babies!

Posted: Sun May 14, 2017 11:06 pm
by PhotoLady
I hope we get a photo diary update!

Re: Our swallows have had babies!

Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 10:15 am
by Dominic
Oh no! It looks like something has happened to the babies. The parents have stopped tending the nest, and I just saw the saddest sight ever. One of the parents was flying up to other rafters, where old nests used to be. They had food in their mouth and seemed to be hunting for their babies.

We did find a little bit of the nest on the ground yesterday. Perhaps another bird has flown in for a feed?

Poor swallows.

Re: Our swallows have had babies!

Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 10:21 am
by Ams
That's so sad... :cry: :cry: I'm hopeless at things like that, I'd be really upset if those were my swallows. Luckily where I am we haven't had that problem, not yet anyway.

I'm pretty sure my babies have been born, but haven't yet seen their heads peaking out over the top of the net. The parents keep dive bombing my cats, who just want to sleep on the patio. It worries me, as there is more chance of the cats catching them.

Re: Our swallows have had babies!

Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 10:22 am
by cyprusmax47
Magpie!! Too many around and they do that, I have seen it at my place...
Max

Re: Our swallows have had babies!

Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 11:18 am
by PhotoLady
😞

Re: Our swallows have had babies!

Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 11:25 am
by PhotoLady
We put a nesting box up in our back garden but it was a bit late for this year. Hopefully next year we will have some residents....

We currently have a starling party going on in our bird feeding tree plus a wood pigeon queue. The goldfinches were here around 07:30 but every so often I hear one bird constantly making a single continuous cheep.... that means one of the neighbours cats is either waiting or is asleep by the garden shed. Signal for us to send it on its way!

Re: Our swallows have had babies!

Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 8:28 pm
by PhotoLady
Nature is very cruel.... but at least it's natural.

Re: Our swallows have had babies!

Posted: Thu May 18, 2017 9:57 pm
by PhotoLady
As opposed to the birds being trapped or shot....