[wisb] Re: RFI: Tree swallows abandoning 5 nestlings
- From: Peter Dunn <pdunn@xxxxxxx>
- To: mrstrass@xxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 12:19:48 -0500
Hi
If one of the parents is killed by a predator, particularly the female, then
they are likely to abandon the nest. The other behavior that people often ask
about is infanticide. If you find that all of the nestlings disappear shortly
after hatch, then it is likely there is a new male at the nest and he is
removing the chicks. This may lead to renesting with the same female. Lions
and some primates do the same thing; its just less obvious with little
nestlings.
This year has been pretty good for swallows in Saukville (near West Bend). We
have not had any big 'die-offs' of nestlings due to weather (usually the first
week of june as they hatch), just the occasional strange things like
abandonment and infanticide that Mary mentions.
Best,
Peter
Peter Dunn
Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
PO Box 413
Milwaukee, WI 53201 USA
pantherfile.uwm.edu/pdunn/www/
414-229-2253
pdunn@xxxxxxx
On Jun 29, 2014, at 10:47 AM, Mary Strasser <mrstrass@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> I had a nest with 5 new tree swallow hatchlings early last week. In the last
> couple days, I noticed that the adult swallows were not around much. Last
> evening, before a storm rolled through, I saw an adult swallow peering out of
> the birdhouse entry hole and shaking its head a lot. I was concerned because
> last year I lost a brood of tree swallows in a different birdhouse.
> I checked the swallow nest this morning and found 5 dead pin-feathered
> chicks. They were blanketed with a cover of white feathers. Upon examining
> the nest, I found no signs of blowfly infestation, but did find several
> carrion beetles inside the birdhouse. There were no marks indicating injury
> on any of the chicks.
>
> The birdhouse is a standard bluebird house with a baffled post to guard
> against predators. The birdhouse entry faces northwest. Our yard is about
> half mowed lawn and half natural meadow/prairie. There is a wooded edge at
> the rear of our property. The neighborhood is semi-rural, with a couple of
> farms and a housing subdivision with very large lots. There is ample natural
> habitat in the area.
>
> What would cause the adult tree swallows to abandon an active nest with 5
> chicks? We have had a few days with rain, but not for extended periods of
> time. It was hot a couple of days in the past week, but moderate
> temperatures were more prevalent.
>
> Are there any ideas as to why the nest was deserted by the adults?
>
> Mary Strasser in southeast La Crosse
> La Crosse County
>
> ####################
> You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding
> Network (Wisbirdn).
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
> //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn
> To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
> //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn
> Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn
>
>
####################
You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding
Network (Wisbirdn).
To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
//www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn
To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at:
//www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn
Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn
Other related posts:
