None here, either. But judging from the goings on behind the barn this morning, there will be lots of baby killdeer in a short time. 
[QUOTE=K~2;8598021]
We are south of Toronto, and I haven’t seen our scout yet! Jealous.[/QUOTE]
I’m surprised any are that far north already. I’ve never seen them before late April. I hope ours don’t come anytime soon, it was 24 degrees this morning! Not much flying around for food either.
A scout arrived on 27 March! That is the earliest by 3 or 4 days in 21 years!!!
We’ve had some very cold nights (woke up this morning to a sea of white). Luckily, it burned off by 9am.
All the top doors to our stables are now open (there aren’t any horses in them) until the swallows leave in the autumn.
It’s said that one swallow does not a summer make, but its arrival has put a skip in my step and a great, big grin on my face!!
First Kildeer today! Exactly 1 week earlier than last year.
I have not seen a single bird yet, in Georgia. Makes me think that all the bad storms have blown them up to the Northeast.
I’m in the Toronto area and no barn swallows yet. With the weather we’ve been having (snow storm and cold) They’d be nuts to be here.
With the bears waking up, I stopped feeding the birds - until the temps dropped and the snow started flying yesterday. What a treat to watch them all this snowy afternoon. A mix of the winter crowd – juncos, titmice, jays, doves, sparrows, woodpeckers, cardinals, etc and the returning birds; red wing blackbirds, cowbirds, starlings and a gorgeous northern flicker!
Brrr… glad the swallows are staying away for now!
I had a northern flicker too.Took me a while to identify her. I also had a towhee.
They have been here for 3 days. I still have my bird feeders going. I feel bad with the weather turning so cold and windy.
No swallows yet.
[QUOTE=stillhere;8607435]
I had a northern flicker too.Took me a while to identify her. I also had a towhee.
They have been here for 3 days. I still have my bird feeders going. I feel bad with the weather turning so cold and windy.
No swallows yet.[/QUOTE]
The beautiful flicker is now at the local Audubon rehab center. He was on the fence this morning(18 degrees) and allowing my gelding to nose him around, I was able to scoop him right up without any resistance. Poor guy, hopefully after a few meals and a bit of a rest he will be ready to go!
I saw my first barn swallow on March 31! I was quite surprised. I think he is still on his own. Forecasted to be like 20 degrees tonight! Hope he does ok till his friends arrive.
I’m in southern Indiana. One swallow arrived Sunday night - another one today, so yay! Day temp’s in the mid 60’s; lows in the low 30’s forecasted rest of this week. Also saw a silhouette of a crane today but couldn’t make out what kind. Still haven’t seen hummingbirds yet though.
The Kildeer and robins are back, and just yesterday some eastern bluebirds have appeared in the yard. I’ve seen one red winged blackbird so far. No swallows yet.
Best of all though are the American White Pelicans that arrived this week. They only pass through on their migration–usually they’re gone within a week–so it’s always special. I was on a long run along a lakeshore this past weekend and at around mile 14 was mentally giving up, when overhead these enormous pelicans were gliding so, so peacefully and magestically. I ran the last few miles of my run looking up in the sky smiling.
Ours finally arrived over the weekend while we were out of town. We only get one
pair. Took the next down as the spiders had done a number on it so they have been
busy fussing.
I saw my pair of Barn Swallows two weeks ago and haven’t seen them since:cry:
I have a feeling they aren’t nesting here, for some reason.
I was at the feed store yesterday and tneir Barn Swallows are back full force. They told me I could take all of them home with me.
The Purple Martins are back and nesting. We put up a third house for them, and it’s being inhabited:)
Bluebirds are nesting in their house by the barn.
Killdeer ----- haven’t seen them for several years:(
It is snowing and -10C here, so I hope the swallows stay away a lot longer.
The robins and killdeer have been back for a while, and I am feeling very worried about them.
Grackles, redwinged blackbirds have also been back for a while as well.
I have not seen my sole swallow since last week. He was the only one but it really was a Barn swallow. He must have sensed the snow and cold was coming and headed back to his group to say “stay away”. 
[QUOTE=Fred;8608421]
It is snowing and -10C here, so I hope the swallows stay away a lot longer.
The robins and killdeer have been back for a while, and I am feeling very worried about them.
Grackles, redwinged blackbirds have also been back for a while as well.[/QUOTE]
I have been feeding the birds, and have had lots of robins and killdeer coming to the feeder, so I’m thinking they will be okay.
Hi everyone. I am an alumnus of the Univ. of Colorado. The current magazine has an article on barn swallow research. Thought some might be interested!
http://www.colorado.edu/coloradan/2016/03/01/birds-eye-view
Just north of the NY/PA border and I have plenty of robins and red wing blackbirds, but no sign of the barn swallows yet. I did have a couple of pairs in my new barn last year and I hope they come back, though they might be waiting for Mother Nature to warm things up.
2 scouts arrived (N Ga) last Saturday (2nd). Not seen any since then, though.
