Swallows and changes at nesting site.

Falcon L

Hi there,
I need to change the doors on the barn the swallows nest in. One of the existing doors has 3 openings approx 23cm x 30cm, which the swallows use as access to the barn. I was planning to leave 2 openings in one of the new doors 20cm x 20cm. Local feral cats have been a problem and the slightly smaller openings will be easier to defend.

Question: will the new arrangement potentially stop the swallows returning to the barn next spring? I would hate to lose them.

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I suspect you will be fine, as the holes are reasonable.

swifts need our help!

A friend has small nails in a baton on the lower edge of his swallow 'window' that stops cats entering his garage

Falcon L

swifts need our help! wrote: »

A friend has small nails in a baton on the lower edge of his swallow 'window' that stops cats entering his garage

Yeah, I have rows of nails along the bottom of the openings. I woke up one morning to see a cat perched on top of the nails and the swallows going mad trying to get in to their nests. Some nice black grease slathered on the wood has softened their cough though. One cat with black feet and they haven't tried since.

Falcon L

I only got around to replacing the doors on the barn during last winter. I ended up with an opening about 50cm wide by 20cm high.

First swallow arrived today. Took a couple of runs at the new door, but swerved away at the last second. It's still flying around feeding. Here's hoping with everything crossed.