Tree Swallows gathering for trip south..

Large groups of tree swallows are beginning to congregate usually on telephone or hydro wires around town. I saw them also at a farm we visited yesterday. I noticed on the way that all the red-winged blackbirds are already gone from the sloughs(ponds) but that there are plenty of ducks on them now.

Tree swallows are back..

The other day I cut the grass at our other property. I notice that there is a pair of tree swallows in the birdhouse that is on the old clothesline pole. They seem not to be bothered too much by my cutting the grass. A pair seems to nest there every year for several years now.

There are a few tree swallows around but barn swallows seem not too common anymore. However there are oodles of purple martins. Many people have special birdhouses for them.