New nest

[Cartoonist]

They just moved in. They built their nest in an awkward spot. I will not be able to monitor the young.

So what kind of bird is this?

[SheltieLover]

1. Dunno, but it's gorgeous!

Congrats on new nest!

[Harker]

2. Looks like a Barn Swallow. n/t

[MuseRider]

3. Agreed.

Mine, in my barn, nest like this. You will see them still but not as hatchlings. They will eventually be hanging out of the crowded nest like little soldiers. I do not really know much about it but I do know that other birds must not be aware of the snake hazard in a barn, the swallows are thankfully!

[Harker]

4. Is there a colony in your barn?

Despite the abundance of barns near me in upstate New York, I haven't seen a Barn Swallow in the year I've been here.

[MuseRider]

5. I used to have more

but birds around here change so much. They did not used to but I suspect there are a lot of reasons that have to do with climate change and poisons that are used by the farmers. I am also across the road and a house away from a rail that runs quite a few trains with goods, mostly oil and they have freaking begun to crop dust the tracks. They fly right over my pastures and house and that cannot be good not to mention the drift. That being said, no I do not have a colony but I used to have more. There would be anywhere from two to five nests at times and they usually come back and nest where they were born. One down year I had sparrows move in and that did not help at all, they chased away the swallows. I love all birds but sparrows are messy and horrible parents! This is the first year in several that I have had the swallows back.

[Harker]

8. I try not to play favorites, too, but it's sometimes difficult.

You're right about the increasing changes... some of the range maps in my field guides are way off, and they're not very old.

Hope you like this...

[MuseRider]

10. OMG that was so good!

Thank you. I had never heard the song before and I loved this so much. Made my day, thank you.

[Harker]

11. Very much a pleasure!

I love The Ink Spots, and "If I Didn't Care" is a favorite of mine period.

They're terrific.

[Bayard]

6. Barn Swallow

Very good at eating insects, and being entertaining. We've had one family raised in our hanging gourd houses so far this summer.

The Dollar General store in town had dozens of them building nests like that under their side awning. I loved to just sit and watch them. But then someone tore them all down.

[Harker]

9. That's horrible.

It's hard for me to understand why they would be a problem, especially away from the doors.

[GentryDixon]

7. You'll have a mess when young ones lean over the nest & poop.

We thought it was so cute when they built under our patio shelter. We soon learned it was not.