Stormin 9,981 #1 Posted May 25, 2021 (edited) Along with the arrival of spring, we also get the arrival of swallows. It's nice to see them as they fly about, soaring and diving as they catch insects on their wings. Something else they are doing, is looking for somewhere to build their nests. Which is fine by me, but NOT in my workshop. The last few days if the doors were open, they've been flying in and out. Now I don't want swallow nests, or any bird nests in the workshop. One is the mess they make and the other is when the doors are shut, they can't get in or out. SWMBO had some net curtain material that was surplus to her requirements. She's kindly donated it for a good cause. An anti swallow deterrent across the door way. Edited May 25, 2021 by Stormin 2 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pacer 3,168 #2 Posted May 25, 2021 I was having a problem with Sweeps (I think a type of Swallow, thats generally referred to as "chimney sweeps??) - except they liked to spend the night in my fireplace chimney! With the TV right next to the chimney, the little stinkers would make so much noise chattering til we could hardly hear the TV. I finally had a welder friend make up a 'cap' for the chimney. When we went to mount it there were 11 of them down in the chimney, like to never got all them out! As for building nest in the shop, mine is the little Wren, she can build a nest and have 3-5 eggs in it seemingly over nite! Like you I think the little guys are cute as can be ---- but If I'm not paying attention, I'll close one up inside, or she cant get back in to tend to the nest. She can make a pretty big mess too!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,199 #3 Posted May 25, 2021 3 minutes ago, pacer said: Sweeps I think that may be SWIFT ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimney_swift 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pacer 3,168 #4 Posted May 25, 2021 Just now, Jeff-C175 said: may be SWIFT ? Well, I have an excuse for that blunder --- I was still working on my second cup of coffee and my brain hadnt quite up to speed!! Seriously, I paused at giving the species as 'swallow' thinking it didnt seem right. So, Yes they are more commonly called "Chimney SWIFT!" 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,038 #5 Posted May 25, 2021 Growing up we had Barn Swallows all the time. we'd be playing basket ball inside the the little rascals would land on the hoop. My Father hung aluminum pie plates from the ceiling to scare them away. We ended up bashing them with the basket ball. (The plates) I've had Robins build nests the last 2 years on my extension ladder which is hung under the roof. It's great because I have an excuse not to get the ladder out. But my dog is a Bird Dog and he goes nuts out there when the babies leave the nest. I've hung aluminum lunch trays from the Senior Center lunches along the roof edge. Lets see if that works. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maxwell-8 4,275 #6 Posted May 25, 2021 1 hour ago, Stormin said: We wouldn't want any bird crap on that nice roper? We are having the same problem, great solution you have there. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,583 #7 Posted May 25, 2021 @Stormin, hello norm, I do a lot of pontoon kick boat fly fishing , barn swallows are a good sign for me as to what Is coming off the water, pictires of the natural fly , https://blog.vailvalleyanglers.com/blue-wing-olives-the-first-predictable-mayflies-of-spring-in-colorado/, show what stages they are in . eggs laid last year are EMERGING now , picture a tiny stage of it lifting out of the mud under water ,and helplessly going to the surface . only to mate, lay eggs and die the same day . in Montana its common for swallow nests to almost touch the water from a bridge . they tell what fly to use, pete Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
