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Swallows in house

  • 22-07-2008 7:09pm
    #1
    Zingy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7 ✭


    Hi,

    Am currently building a house, for which the windows are due to be installed in early September.

    Unfortunately a swallow has built her nest in the guest bedroom (!) and is currently rearing some chicks in it.

    Does anyone know when they will leave the nest & when it will be safe to put in a window?


Comments

  • #2
    animalcrazy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 470 ✭✭animalcrazy


    I was watching the RSPCA programme on animal planet and something similar happened. They had to stop building until the birds flew the nest, that was england though so the law probably isn't the same here.

    Forgot to add by September they will have flown the nest so nothing to worry about!


  • #3
    tricky D
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,700 ✭✭✭tricky D


    There's 2 threads, one in DIY and one in Nature and Birdwatching. Basically it's illegal to knock them own and they take from 22 to 56 days depending on the weather.


  • #4
    Zingy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7 ✭Zingy


    That's ok so - have no problem with the swallows as long as they are outside the house. They can hang out in the eaves next year.:)


  • #5
    hadook
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 792 ✭✭✭hadook


    What a clever bird - choosing the guest bedroom :)


  • #6
    Sigma Force
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,132 ✭✭✭Sigma Force


    We used to have them in our old porch but now since we built on they have come back and nest in the eaves. Felt so guilty when we had to take down old sheds as well. But they are nesting on two sides of the neighbours and they have already reared one lot of chicks, the first nest they built fell down, it must of been too dry but they re built it and are on their second lot which must be almost ready to fledge.

    If the window has to go in you could then leave the window open putting a sticker or something on any part of the window that can't be opened. Prob best to leave it for now if you can. Mind you when they are due back next year keep the windows closed just in case lol.


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  • #7
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Swallows leave the nest between 17 and 24 days after hatching so they'll be long gone by September.

    (Swallows nest inside buildings. If there are birds in the eaves next year, they will probably be House Martins.)


  • #8
    Zingy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7 ✭Zingy


    I never knew that. Feel guilty now - they'll be pretty annoyed when they come back next year.


  • #9
    Whispered
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,772 ✭✭✭✭Whispered


    This might be a ridiculously sentimental thing to say, but your new house is obviously very welcoming if a swallow sees fit to raise her babies there. I would imagine it's going to be a very happy house.

    (que people telling me to stop humanising animals etc) ;)


  • #10
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Helena, Stop humanising animals!:D:D

    Swallows usually frequent creeking, draughty old barns, so stop casting aspersions on the OPs nice new home. :D:D


  • #11
    Whispered
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,772 ✭✭✭✭Whispered


    :D


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  • #12
    Zingy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7 ✭Zingy


    It is timber frame so does actually resemble a creaky old barn at the mo! The five swallows have now flown the nest - four of them are flying above it each day but one of them was killed by a cat before it got out of the house. Four out of five isn't too bad i guess.


  • #13
    Honey-ec
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,844 ✭✭✭Honey-ec


    helena.ryan wrote: »
    This might be a ridiculously sentimental thing to say, but your new house is obviously very welcoming if a swallow sees fit to raise her babies there. I would imagine it's going to be a very happy house.

    (que people telling me to stop humanising animals etc) ;)

    It is actually considered very good luck to have swallows/house martins in your house!

    We have house-martins in our gable-end this year for the first time, I've been having great fun watching them.


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