[wisb] Re: Tree Swallow question
- From: Rick Pertile <mugzy1960@xxxxxxx>
- To: <awreimer@xxxxxxx>, <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2010 05:52:01 -0500
Andrew,
My guess would be that they are indeed feeding on insects, many that are
probably being picked off the surface of the pond. I have noticed on more than
one occasion where tree swallows along with a pair of eastern phoebes on my
lake were actually picking bugs off of a large piece of ice that was still
floating on the lake.
Over the years I have also seen in many of my tree swallow nests, tiny snail
shells or other crustacean shells inside the box at the end of the season.
They must certainly be getting these from the surface of the water and I know
their are others who have made this observation as well.
Good birding,
Rick Pertile
Sawyer County
> Date: Thu, 8 Apr 2010 23:05:23 -0500
> Subject: [wisb] Tree Swallow question
> From: awreimer@xxxxxxx
> To: wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> As Daryl decried, our Spring snow put a crimp on birdwatching today in the
> Fox Valley. However, throughout the day as I looked at the pond across the
> road, more and more Tree Swallows seemed to be gathering until by the end of
> the afternoon there were probably 200 of them whirling about. My wife who
> also noticed, asked why they were gathered there. I told her probably
> because with snow covering everything else, they didn't have anywhere else
> to go. But then she asked why they keep flying. They didn't seem to be
> resting, and as cold as it was, you'd think they'd want to conserve body
> heat. Certainly there weren't any bugs to eat over the pond. But for hours
> on end they kept flying over the pond. I remember witnessing the same thing
> with even greater numbers of swallows over the Menominee River during the
> walleye runs about this time of year in the past. Any thoughts out there
> regarding this cold-weather behavior by Tree Swallows?
> Thanks!
> Andrew Reimer
> Darboy (Appleton), Calumet County
>
>
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