It is that time of the year again, when the farm is bustling with life. Every year since I have lived in this little slice of paradise, the barn swallows show up in the spring. Not only do the show up, but they keep growing in numbers each year, making nest out in the horse barn. Busy each day eating all of the flying insects, they are truly amazing beautiful birds.
I just went out to the barn to give the horses a treat and I heard a little cry for help. In one of the stalls a little baby barn swallow had fallen from the nest, built into the ceiling joist, and was on the stall floor crying for attention. I quickly picked up the little guy before he got trampled and put him in a temporary box. I noticed one of the nests had broken loose from one of the joist and had tipped.
I was going to put the little guy back into the nest, but it was clear that this home was not too stable. So, I decided to build the little guy a home of his own, and hopefully mom will take over tomorrow, other wise I am going to be dad for a while. Good thing I used to be a builder. I went out into the big barn and found a box, filled it with loose sawdust shavings and some hay. I then tacked the box close to the ceiling. When I was all done the little guy was still crying away, so I decided to make the little guy dinner.
What do barn swallows eat? Well I know they eat flying insects, but I couldn't catch any so I dig up some meal worms and rigged a straw to hopefully feed the little guy. In the mean time I was hoping mom would show up to take over, but on such luck. I have never seen them at night, I wonder where they hide? Anyway, my meal worn delight seemed to be the ticket for this little guy.
Does anyone have any suggestions, as to what to feed this little guy or how to attract the mom back again?
Should I try to put him in another one of the nest?
In the mean time this little guys house is now home in a box.
Here is another nest in the same barn. Should I try and put him in this nest?
Barn swallow Hirundo rustica
Identification Tips:
- Length: 6 inches
- Tiny bill
- Dark orange forehead and throat
- Pale orange underparts
- Dark, iridiscent upperparts
- Long, deeply forked tail
- Juvenile similar to adult but paler underneath with a shorter tail
- Most often seen flying
- Will nest communally in mud nests under bridges, in barns and caves, etc
Similar species:
The Barn Swallow can be told from all swallows by its deeply forked tail.
Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.
Patuxent Bird Population Studies
Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
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