Barn swallows

Recently, a family of barn swallows has built one of their fabulous "sconce-like" nests above the windows on our back patio. Strangely enough, there are three adult birds involved - perhaps "Uncle Bob" is in on the deal.

There were four tiny eggs laid, and all hatched. (The empties were pitched out of the nest onto the floor.) Soon, we could see little beaks over the rim of the nest.

A couple of days ago, Carla found a young bird on the concrete floor under the nest. He was still warm but apparently dead.

Yesterday, she spotted another one on the floor - still alive (We think that our dog, Daisy, was laying there when he descended, and made a soft landing pad!) Carla went up a ladder and put the little guy back in the nest.

Here is a shot of one of them, signaling that he wants to be fed (they are not yet making any sound):




Canon EOS 40D, Sigma 18-200 mm f/ 3.5-6.3 lens at 200 mm (320 mm ff35 equivalent), ISO 400, F/6.3, 1/60 sec, fill from onboard flash. 49% x 55% crop, presented here at 47% of original camera resolution


Today, Carla went up the ladder again and shot the three of them in place:




Canon PowerShot SX110 IS, f=6 mm (36 mm ff35 equivalent), ISO 400, f/4.0, 1/125 sec, fill from onboard flash. 81% crop, presented here at 32% of original camera resolution.

Interesting story and images, Doug - thanks for sharing!

(I appreciate the technical details as well - talk about precision!)

Doug and Carla,

Great fortune for you but hard luck on the fellow that fell from the nest. How come the dog ddn't eat the other one that fell? Although the birds seem well disguised by coloration, (pretty well matching the nest except for their throats), it's a wonder they don't get scavenged by hawks, or maybe hawks don't bother with them!

I'm so impressed and like this better the defining f-stops! Congrats to the two of you! You're getting better and better!

Asher

Hi, Asher,

Asher Kelman said:

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How come the dog ddn't eat the other one that fell?

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Well, it's only conjecture that he fell on the dog. If so, it probably scared the hell out of the dog, who probably scooted away.

it's a wonder they don't get scavenged by hawks, or maybe hawks don't bother with them!

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The nest is high on the wall at the back of a fairly wide patio roof, so it probably isn't visible to the hawks.

In any case, when hawks come by, the barn swallows run them off!

I'm so impressed and like this better the defining f-stops!

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A chacun son égout!

Best regards,

Doug