A few weeks ago we noticed blue and brown birds sitting outside of our house. After consulting our "Birds of Kentucky" guide, we determined that they were either eastern bluebirds or barn swallows. We watched them for a few more days and settled on barn swallows. I was reading further on these birds, and I came across an interesting fact: barn swallows build their nests out of mud and straw and can make up to 1,000 trips in the process. Interesting, I thought, I wonder where these birds live? I then looked outside to see that one of my swallows had a muddy piece of straw in its mouth and the iron rod he was sitting on was quite muddy. Uh-oh. I looked around and soon found a nest about 400 trips through the building process right inside our entranceway. When Lianne got home I showed her and she was quite excited about the prospect of having out own set of barn swallows. So I let the nest construction continue. All was fine and dandy until a few days ago when the "swooping " began. I would hear a "chirp-chirp" and look up to see a swallow making a dive bomb run at my head. Lianne insists that they are not getting that close. But I stand a few inches above her, and I am not so sure. We discovered the reason for the increased aggression: chicks. I risked life and limb to get you the picture of the chicks, and I also got some video of a swooping attack. I hope the swoops don’t come any closer so I can continue to mow the lawn and get the mail.Baby Swallows:
Mama Swallow with her hover attack:
A swooping run:
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5 comments:
Wow - very cool. You guys rock that you let the birds live there. I trust that you will survive the swooping attacks and the bird family will live happily ever after. I loved the picures. Love, Mom
HAHA! I love the picture of the Mama Bird in mid-swoop. Great shot :D
Mike - I too have been the target of some swooping birds around our place lately. However, you defiantly have me beat. Try to think of them as your own personal security system / guard bird, if you will. If anyone gets to close they will attack. (and it looks like someone could walk right into the entry way to a scary surprise) Anyway, maybe you and Lianne should watch "The Birds" movie by Alfred Hitchcock – it seems fitting. (However, the movie may change Lianne's view of the birds)
Ummm....I miss your faces. Post some pictures.
Ty says that they are barn swallows because of orange belly and blue wings.
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