Swallow's nest

Effects

I just wanted to ask some advice here about swallow's nests. I have a property with some barns where swallows nest each year. They leave a lot of bird crap in these barns, leaving me to have to clean it up. One of the barns I don't mind so much as it lands on an upper floor that is never used as it's unsafe to walk on. Another smaller barn I use for storage of wood, ladders and other things is more of a concern. Is it ok for me to close off access so that they can't use this building to nest in? I know a lot of swallows come back to the same nests so I wouldn't like to cause a problem for them.

OpenYourEyes

It's perfectly okay for you to block off access now - but do it now, don't leave it a few weeks because some swallows will have arrived by then!

And by doing this you will certainly be causing a problem for them. Hopefully they'll find somewhere else though.

A compromise might be to just put down some plastic sheeting or something like that under the nests - all the droppings will go on that and you can clean it off or throw it out in Autumn. Swallows get to keep their nesting spot, and you don't get droppings all over your possesions!

Zoo4m8

I remember my father going to great lengths to suspend a large sheet of plastic about three feet below the nests in the shed where he parked his car, it's still there over twenty years later!
On the other hand a couple of years ago they decided to use my workshop, while I enjoyed their company they made quite a mess and it just wasn't practical to cover and uncover machinery as needed so I blocked access last year but they found a way in through a tiny gap in the gable... So I just gave up, it's properly sealed this year though!

Ulmus

Posted this before. It's really sad to oust swallows from their nest sites. Please reconsider. They'll have travelled many, many miles to get back to your barn.
You can buy special boards to collect the droppings. http://www.livingwithbirds.com/nest-...swallow-nests/ Or if you're good at DIY you could make your own. It would be a shame to lose the swallows.

Effects

Think I'll just try and put up something to catch the droppings this year instead and see how I get on. I love having them around in the summer so I'd hate to disrupt them too much.

Squidvicious

Slightly different point(the opposite, in fact!). I lived in an old house until quite recently. There were disused sheds at the back and swallows nested in them every year for decades. We moved out of the house to a new one a short distance away but continue to own the old one which is currently unoccupied. Unfortunately, the swallows have stopped returning to the sheds since about 3/4 years ago. Having had many swallows until around 2009, we went to having only one active nest in 2010 to none by 2011 and they haven't returned since. The sheds are no different to before, except that the adjoining house is empty. The adjoining yard is a little more unkempt, but no big difference. Is there any reason for the swallow's desertion and does anyone know a way of bringing them back?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

To be honest, it sounds like that line of swallows failed to make it back from migration. In time others may take up the location. All I can think of regarding making it any more appealing for them is if the area has become overgrown then try to provide more open space and more grassy areas for the birds to fly over while feeding. You could put up nest platforms or boxes but if the site was used in previous years then they probably already have the structures they need. Maybe just give it time!

Squidvicious

Stephanie Yummy Elbow wrote: »

To be honest, it sounds like that line of swallows failed to make it back from migration. In time others may take up the location. All I can think of regarding making it any more appealing for them is if the area has become overgrown then try to provide more open space and more grassy areas for the birds to fly over while feeding. You could put up nest platforms or boxes but if the site was used in previous years then they probably already have the structures they need. Maybe just give it time!

Thanks for that. It's a shame to think that a line of swallows dies out considering that they must have travelled to those sheds for a long time. I'll try to convince myself that they found a nicer spot somewhere else!

I've heard of people playing swift calls to attract swifts to artificial nests. Could that work with swallows? A bit drastic, I know, but I do miss their annual visit.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I have never seen or heard of it for swallow. First things first though: are there swallows visiting the area at all?

Squidvicious

Stephanie Yummy Elbow wrote: »

I have never seen or heard of it for swallow. First things first though: are there swallows visiting the area at all?

Yes, I certainly see swallows regularly during the summer. We're surrounded by farmland, mainly cattle/dairy.

Woodville56

I have them returning year after year to a barn nest site and would be disappointed also if they failed to show. It's a highlight of the season the day I find them arrived back and similarly a bit sentimental on last sighting in Autumn. Still, we have them around for almost 6 months so lots of time to enjoy them ! Last year they reared 2 clutches of 5 and 4 nestlings and the second brood picked a really wet downpour of a day to fledge, which was quite strange in itself - dodgy judgement on their part. I can still remember three of them sitting on the eve gutter in the downpour ! Thankfully they managed to survive and last sighting was late September !

Squidvicious

Woodville56 wrote: »

I think swallows in search of a nest site will find your sheds eventually as long as you keep clear access flyways etc. Possibly the local swallow population already has adequate nest sites in your area but likely that first time nesters or other displaced swallows will find your site eventually !!

Hopefully. I must have a look around at the weekend and do a little tidy up.

Obliq

Squidvicious wrote: »

The sheds are no different to before, except that the adjoining house is empty. The adjoining yard is a little more unkempt, but no big difference. Is there any reason for the swallow's desertion and does anyone know a way of bringing them back?

Just another thought - have any trees or shrubs grown into their natural flight path out of the old shed? Swallows love a straight run out of the nest too...

Squidvicious

Obliq wrote: »

Just another thought - have any trees or shrubs grown into their natural flight path out of the old shed? Swallows love a straight run out of the nest too...

Not really. There was a Leylandii nearby but that wouldn't have interfered with flight paths. That said,I took the top off it last Autumn, so you never know, maybe that'll make the difference!

veetwin

My father has loads of swallows regularly nesting in his barn. Sick of cleaning up after them he erected a 2 foot square plywood platform under the nests. It proved invaluable last year as a chick fell onto the platform soon after hatching and was fed and raised on the platform until if flew.