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Tree Swallows Returning For Skywatch Friday

Tree Swallows At Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge photo by Larry Jordan

The Tree Swallows are returning to northern California!  Spring is approaching and Tree Swallows and Western Bluebirds are beginning to look for available nesting sites.  If you have birdhouses (nestboxes) in your yard, make sure they have been cleaned out and are ready for your next inhabitants.

These two male Tree Swallows were eying this tiny cavity in  this snag and taking turns showing it to the ladies.  I don’t believe they would be able to use anything this size to create a nesting cavity but they are looking (click on photo for a larger picture).

Tree Swallows are beginning to pair up and will look for large cavities in which to build their nests.  In northern California we have several large oak trees that will house large numbers of Tree Swallow pairs.  They also take readily to man made birdhouses with the same configuration that Western Bluebirds occupy.  If you live in an area where both of these species live, you can place two birdhouses, 25 feet apart and they will coexist happily, keeping other nesting birds away from their territory.

For more great sky photos, go to Skywatch Friday!  If you have some sky photos, participate in the fun!

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • kanani March 12, 2009, 10:08 am

    I think this is one of the most striking photos I’ve seen on this blog yet! Wow! What great colors –only in nature do you see such variations of blue! Glad things are going well. I’m adding you to my sidebar.

  • Klaus March 12, 2009, 1:02 pm

    Ah – so that’s were they went! 🙂
    Great shots!
    Cheers, Klaus

  • Rob Ripma March 12, 2009, 1:21 pm

    Nice shot. We are starting to get Tree Swallows back here in Kentucky too. Sure is a great sign of spring!

  • Maalie March 12, 2009, 1:46 pm

    Vwery n ice picture of Tree swallows.

    Maalies last blog post..Everglades revisited

  • babooshka March 12, 2009, 2:06 pm

    You really ahve outdone yourself with these. Absolutely fabulous.

    babooshkas last blog post..MY LOST DAY LOOKED LIKE THIS?- SKYWATCH

  • MaineBirder March 12, 2009, 2:51 pm

    Excellent photos Larry!

    I can’t wait until they return to our nest boxes.

    MaineBirders last blog post..Rear View – Bird Photos

  • kayleen March 12, 2009, 6:27 pm

    Great photo of the swallows. Like the eagles one post down too. Actually all the photos on your page are fabulous. Thanks for sharing.

    kayleens last blog post..Skywatch Friday

  • Gunilla in Sweden March 13, 2009, 9:07 am

    What lovely photos of the birds. here in Sweden they come in early spring. Now we have a lot of snow.

    Have a nice weekend

    Gunilla in Sweden

    Gunilla in Swedens last blog post..SkyWatch

  • Amber Coakley March 13, 2009, 9:07 pm

    Nice! I haven’t seen Tree Swallows in my neck of the woods, but was able to see tons of them while visiting Denver last summer. I think they look green, and someone else said blue. Really, they are sort-of iridescent, right? They are so colorful! Awesome picture Larry!!

    Amber Coakleys last blog post..Duck Duck Goose: Green-winged Teal

  • Adrienne March 14, 2009, 7:37 am

    What a great action shot!

    Adriennes last blog post..Camera Critters – Spring Azure