[TN-Bird] Cave Swallow colony

I had noticed a swarm of swallows around a freeway overpass near my home and 
today after work stopped to check them out to confirm my suspicion as to 
species. I was happy to find that yes, the underpass has suddenly been 
colonized by a considerable number of Cave Swallows, all busily building mud 
nests to beat the band. The underside of the road surface carrying the 
expressway over the road below is a corrugated material resting on large 
concrete I-beams and the swallows are building a nest in every little indent 
formed across almost the entire bridge.
I've seen Cave Swallows utilizing overpasses in this manner in Texas (many if 
not all overpasses between Houston and San Antonio on I-10) but hadn't seen it 
so close to home. This overpass is three years old and hasn't hosted such a 
colony before -- I drive by it daily and would have noticed. I'm fascinated to 
see such a robust number of swallows all move in at once, rather than what I 
would have expected, namely a few scouts now and then a larger number in 
subsequent seasons.  Makes me wonder about swallow lifestyle and society 
dynamics in a way that never occurred to me before. And I'm also glad we got a 
bit of rain, as it's gotta be tough for mud-nest builders this droughty year.

If anyone in the Nashville area wants to check it out, the overpass is the one 
carrying 840 over Spencer Mill Road about 1/2 mile west of where 840 dumps out 
onto Hwy 100. This is in northwestern Williamson County, a frog jump away from 
the Hickman County line. Best view is to park under the overpass on Spencer 
Mill  and look up. The swallows don't seem to mind. :)

Marty DeHart
Bon Aqua, Hickman Co.
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