The nest under the overhang (attached to the horse barn) has four good sized babies peeking their heads out. Mr. WTW first saw them Sunday morning:cool:
The pair that were squabbling inside the barn have reclaimed last year’s nest. They were really chatty up until Saturday when I very sadly had to send my 29 yr old Arab on to his ancestors. The I side Swallows have been very quiet and I don’t see them near as much now that the Arab has passed. I am afraid they will leave:confused:
So sorry, walk.
Thanks very much HH:)
Mr. WTW has been watching the newborn Swallows under the overhang. Keep in mind he first saw their heads this past Sunday and he commented they were big heads.
It’s Wednesday and the next is empty. Mom, dad, kids have flown the coop already! We had no idea they were old enough!
I know they didn’t fall out of the nest, I would have seen them or remnants of them if the cats had been laying in wait.
This has to be a record.
Meanwhile, I did see the pair in the barn for a short time this AM. One was in last year’s nest, the other on the beam. Both were watching me get breakfast ready for the horses.
I just can’t believe we already had babies that are old enough to leave the nest!
Do you ever see black snakes around your barn walkinthewalk?
Don’t mean to be a skeptic, but I’ve had snakes clear out a nest in no time, dang it all.
[QUOTE=leaf;8138915]
Do you ever see black snakes around your barn walkinthewalk?
Don’t mean to be a skeptic, but I’ve had snakes clear out a nest in no time, dang it all.[/QUOTE]
Oh, yeah. That’s why I keep my snake catcher stick nearby. My dogs help harass them as well.
[QUOTE=leaf;8138915]
Do you ever see black snakes around your barn walkinthewalk?
Don’t mean to be a skeptic, but I’ve had snakes clear out a nest in no time, dang it all.[/QUOTE]
Gosh I hope thT isn’t what happened. The snakes would have had to go some to get to where the nest is, under the overhang.
I haven’t seen snakes by the barn for at least 11 years. We have barn cats and keep everything mowed/trimmed.
We also have two Purple Martin houses that are on poles the snakes supposedly can’t climb.
Thanks for the heads up. I guess I had better start watching for signs. I will see Black snake skins way out in the pasture by the sinkhole but that’s a long way from the barn, the field mice are plentiful and fat.
There are Rattlesnakes, Cottonmouths and Copperheads on our road. Black snakes out hunt the viper snakes, which keeps the viper snakes away. I don’t want the Black snakes to leave the property but, I don’t want them eating the baby birds either. What a Catch 22, if that is what happened:(
We have had ours for about a week now in sw Ontario. Always welcome at my place regardless of the extra poopy mess in the barn.
Though little nervous my new rescue addition to the barn cat crew has killed a blue bird. Poor bluebird of happiness. Will have to keep a close eye on the cat.
[QUOTE=leaf;8138915]
Do you ever see black snakes around your barn walkinthewalk?
Don’t mean to be a skeptic, but I’ve had snakes clear out a nest in no time, dang it all.[/QUOTE]
Just had my first black snake trying to raid the eggs, and even nested parents late this afternoon. Knock it down and it landed in the aisle. My little female dog just harrassed it barking her head off (it stayed in a coiled position) until I came over and removed it with my snake catcher. Turned it out way beyond the barn in a pasture across a creek.
I don’t kill snakes…I just “relocate them” if they threaten my beloved swallows. They are welcome back after the swallows are gone to find mice. :lol:
I’m so fond of my black snakes.
The barn swallows often have 4-5 broods going at once. As soon as they fledge, the ladies in waiting begin their broods. If a snake gets one brood out of many I figure that’s natural, snake has to eat too.
I also catch the snake and relocate it on my property when the opportunity presents itself. Sid, you have a snake catcher? Really, what are you, some kinda wuss? 
I catch them with my bare hands and cat-like reflexes. But a snake catcher sounds like a good idea, as I get older. Did you make it yourself? What’s it look like?
I used to catch snakes with my bare hands, but using my catcher is easier. My dad made one when I was a kid and just tried to recreate it. I was a big snake fan as a kid.
It’s just an old future fork handle (old broom handle would work), with a piece of coat hanger duct taped to the top creating a small metal loop, with a long piece of rope attached to make a noose. Very handy when they’re in the rafters and hard to reach.
:eek:
Snakes get up into the rafters?!?!?!!?
Oh-Em-Geeeeeeee! :ambivalence:
2Dogs must remind self to never look up in the barn {shudder}
Not a-feared of snakes per se, but it would be a surprise to see one overhead.
Of course, that might mean not keeping my eye on the swallows.
A dilemma 2 B Shure…
Something ousted a clutch of starling eggs this week - not eaten just smashed on the floor.
So, that would not be a snake’s MO, right?
Ours just got here yesterday. Stoked!
2DogsFarm - I know of a local barn where a snake fell from the rafters ONTO a horse & rider :eek: They don’t know if it climbed up there or if a hawk carried it up there. I would have lost it for sure.
Our baby barn swallows are ready to split from the nest, but the tree swallows have just started their nest in a bird house attached to the top of the shed. Eastern bluebirds have been nesting for the past few weeks and the indigo buntings are also building nests. Cardinals seem to be late nesters. The stupid cowbirds have taken over the owl house, even though we kicked them out TWICE. I really dislike cowbirds. Have seen blacksnakes but no copperheads, yet. Since it’s been almost 80 degrees and lots of rain this week, the copperheads will be heading for their mating spots down by the creek. They like to covey up under the bridge.
Thanks Sid.
Llee, I also strongly dislike cowbirds for being brood parasites. They seem so lazy and dishonest not to raise their own young.
I had a pair of barn swallows hanging out in my barn yesterday! No nest yet, but I think they’re thinking about it. I had 1-2 barn swallow nests in the eaves of my front porch for many years, but last year the power washing guys ignored my instructions to leave the nest alone and blew it down (there were no eggs or babies in it yet, but the parents were working on it). They did not return at all last year so I was happy to see a pair in the barn today.
I also am host to chimney swifts every year.
In the last week, I’ve seen two garter snakes around the house.
They are finally here, thought I saw one yesterday but wasn’t sure as I was driving but there was on sitting on the power line this morning, twittering away madly. Just love that sound.
And a newcomer this year -Western Song Sparrow, and it seems they are staying this year…usually come in, rest and leave within a few days but they have been around for two weeks now.
Our pair just arrived this past weekend. Yay!
We have a bunch of them at the barn where I board, but the owners won’t let them set up housekeeping 
They say they make too much of a mess. I’m hoping to convince them to set up nesting ledges on the outside of the barn. Has anyone had success with that?
[QUOTE=Hinderella;8156488]
We have a bunch of them at the barn where I board, but the owners won’t let them set up housekeeping They say they make too much of a mess. I’m hoping to convince them to set up nesting ledges on the outside of the barn. Has anyone had success with that?[/QUOTE]
They are not open ledge nesters, so I doubt that would work.
Do the owners know how wonderful they are for keeping flying insects (including mosquito populations that spread disease to people and horses) down.
Yes, the poop up my walls and aisles, but I just pressure wash when they leave.
Their benefit to the farm overall far outweighs the pretty barn factor, IMO…
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