Tree swallows

[Fuzzmeister]

I built a sparrow trap box similar to a bluebird nesting box with a 1 3/16 hole size I set it out and that morning I checked it and something had triggered the mechanism, I opened the door expecting a sparrow but here was this pretty purpulish white belley bird starring at me, I released it and now I’m wondering will they live with purple martins in the same houses if the purple martins do not occupy all of the cavities? I actually caught this bird 3 times and I’m presuming they would have built a nest in it so I took it down, I don’t know anything about tree swallows hoping some one can give me some info on them thanks.

[randyM]

Tree swallows can live in the same housing units at the same time as martins....however, if you do not have an established martin colony, tree swallows are notorious for chasing away martins that stop by for a visit and thus can prevent a martin colony from becoming established at that location. If you don't have individual bluebird/tree swallow houses within 50 feet or so of your martin housing, perhaps it would be a good idea to put a few such houses nearby to hopefully attract swallows away from your elevated martin housing. About 4 years ago I had my first pair of martins nest in a multi compartment wooden house and had a pair of tree swallows nest in a gourd hanging from the house directly below the cavity the martin pair used. Both species successfully fledged all of their young that year. There were a few minor skirmishes before nesting, but after that both pairs got along with each other fine. This year so far I have about 10 martin pairs, and a pair of tree swallows again is trying to nest in a gourd beneath one of my wooden houses. Some of the martins pester the swallows periodically, but the tree swallows seem to be holding their own and are building a nest in the gourd, while 4 martin pairs are building nests in the associated wooden house. I have many other "bluebird boxes' and smaller gourds individually placed around my property that are occupied by lots of tree swallows. At some point in the very near future, I hope to have more nesting martin pairs than nesting tree swallow pairs. On average I typically get about 50-60 nesting tree swallows...I have 15 ASY male martins (and about 10 ASY females), so hopefully I'll get at least 20 nesting martin pairs once the subbies arrive in full force in the next few weeks. Good luck to you this season!!

[FarmerHarv]

I put up a dozen tree swallow boxes this year and the little fighter jets are buzzing all over the yard now. They've never even looked at the martin housing, and although they squabble amongst themselves they'll perch with the martins without any trouble. If you put some up, make sure the boxes are big enough (Bluebird boxes are too small for TS) and far enough apart (at least 100').

[flyin-lowe]

Once you have an established colony the tree swallows are less of a concern. They have very high populations in my area and now that I have an established colony I keep the martin housing closed until PM's arrive and the TS stop trying to get into the housing as the martins fill in. One time years ago I actually had 2 pair of tree swallows nesting next to each other in a gourd rack that also had martins. That is the only time they have actually nested in my martin housing after getting returning martins.

[daltonmissouri]

I put up a dozen tree swallow boxes this year and the little fighter jets are buzzing all over the yard now. They've never even looked at the martin housing, and although they squabble amongst themselves they'll perch with the martins without any trouble. If you put some up, make sure the boxes are big enough (Bluebird boxes are too small for TS) and far enough apart (at least 100').

We have tree swallows nesting in bluebird boxes every year.

[Fuzzmeister]

They actually are a very pretty bird and similar to a purple Martin but I live in a small town and I have 2 purple Martin houses up that are now full of pairs of martins, I don’t think it’s a good idea to put up more bird houses for fear that my neighbors are already thinking I am bird crazy. FarmerHarv what is the proper size house for tree swallows? Thanks for all the info on tree swallows guys I appreciate it cheers.

[FarmerHarv]

We have tree swallows nesting in bluebird boxes every year.

Apparently they’re not very good at picking the right size box, and will nest in almost anything with a hole even if it’s far too small. Some or most of the nestlings may not make it if the box isn’t large enough, so it’s best to make sure anything they might pick is the right size for them.

Here is some excellent information of TS boxes... http://www.treeswallowprojects.com/buildbox.html

[FarmerHarv]

They actually are a very pretty bird and similar to a purple Martin but I live in a small town and I have 2 purple Martin houses up that are now full of pairs of martins, I don’t think it’s a good idea to put up more bird houses for fear that my neighbors are already thinking I am bird crazy. FarmerHarv what is the proper size house for tree swallows? Thanks for all the info on tree swallows guys I appreciate it cheers.

Heh, yeah it’s easy to get sideways looks from people all right. Between the Martin and tree swallow/bluebird housing, sparrow traps, little ponds, bird baths, feeders, and orange halves scattered all over the yard here I do get quite a few questions and the occasional head shake.

The current conventional wisdom on TS box size is 6.5”x5.5” interior. Tons of info on the little ME-163 Komet is at http://www.treeswallowprojects.com/index.html

[Chris B]

We have tree swallows nesting in bluebird boxes every year.

Apparently they’re not very good at picking the right size box, and will nest in almost anything with a hole even if it’s far too small. Some or most of the nestlings may not make it if the box isn’t large enough, so it’s best to make sure anything they might pick is the right size for them.

Here is some excellent information of TS boxes... http://www.treeswallowprojects.com/buildbox.html

IMO a TS is a pretty big little burd but so is the BB. I have TS is maybe 10 cavities I have for BBs and the boxes are probbly too small. What does work OK is hanging a smaller gourd with a 1 1/2" hole hanging from a shelf bracket. At least the cavity size can be chosen if you do not make your own boxes.

TS and PM and BS all get along just fine in the same yard. Mine do.

[LoisG]

Hello have been trying for four years to establish a colony. Tree swallows are driving me crazy. I have a small yard and my empty colony is located on my boat dock, about 40 ft from our house. Last year I had three sub adult males who came every day and were attracted to the colony and my recording of the dawn song. This year I had one loan male adult, who I presumed was one of my sub adults from last year. He has come to the colony every morning, this yr, and sits all by his lonesome self for the last two weeks. Intermittently, I have about three peers of tree swallows who also hang out here. Last year I tried moving a gourd over to my next-door neighbors yard because a pasty Treeswallow wouldn’t leave the empty colony alone. I say pesto I do like them as well but there is such a small dominant bird and aunderstand they will chase Martins away. In any case last year I moved the gourd that they were nesting in to my next-door neighbors dock in their yard. It was about 100 feet from the colony but the pest tree swallow kept returning to the colony and chasing away the three sub adult males that would come to the colony every morning. The three sub adult males must of got tired of the pest tree swallow so they in turn went to the single gourd, with the tree swallow, in my neighbors yard and tore up their nest. This is why this year I’m reluctant to try anything I’m very depressed. Please help if you can

[GFB]

Tree swallows can be a pain in the neck when trying to establish a colony but just today I was outside working and was getting tore up by black flies thankfully there were dozens of tree swallows annihilating them close to the ground with my Martins up higher after probably something else. I thinking of making housing next year just for them.