Tree swallows mark the change of the seasons. One of the first signs of the approaching spring and its shimmering vitality, is the arrival of these swallows to the Tennessee Valley.
These metallic blue swallows spend their winters along the Gulf Coast, Florida, Cuba and the Caribbean Islands and in Central America as far south as Panama although I suspect our Tennessee population vacates near Tampa and Treasure Island.
My friend Ted loves watching their aerobatics, their exuberance. He and his wife Geniece have over 30 bluebird boxes in the fields around their home on the French Board River. Tree swallows are called such because they nest in hollow trees but they will readily use these boxes instead, in fact, Ted gets more nesting swallows than bluebirds.
My friend Ted loves watching their aerobatics, their exuberance. He and his wife Geniece have over 30 bluebird boxes in the fields around their home on the French Board River. Tree swallows are called such because they nest in hollow trees but they will readily use these boxes instead, in fact, Ted gets more nesting swallows than bluebirds.
Historically, these insect-eating birds didn’t nest in East Tennessee and have only been doing so since the late 1960s. There’s an ebb and flowing to nature and tree swallows are expanding their range, flowing into our valley. Their population here has been growing ever since.
Ted reports that he saw swallows flying around their property last week on February 23.
Soon the swallows will be claiming nest boxes and searching for discarded feathers their favorite nesting material.
Ted reports that he saw swallows flying around their property last week on February 23.
Soon the swallows will be claiming nest boxes and searching for discarded feathers their favorite nesting material.
Can spring be far behind?
2 comments:
There was a flock of about 25 Tree Swallows today at Kyker Bottoms.
Wonderful photograph! I love watching them too, swooping and diving at the insects!
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