Keep Your Beneficials SAFE!!
BARN SWALLOWS  Hirundo rustica

DID YOU KNOW??

Swallows probably spend more time on the wing than any other songbirds in the world. (Swifts probably fly even more than swallows, but swifts aren't technically songbirds.)

 

Many baby and parent swallows learn each other's voices and stay together over migration. This is one reason why parent birds are so much better at raising their babies than even the most knowledgeable rehabbers.

 

The Barn Swallow may be the fastest swallow. It's been clocked flying 46 m.p.h. The Barn Swallow is the only North American swallow with a deeply forked tail. It's about 5 to 7 inches long, and weighs 17 to 19.8 grams, or 3/4 ounce.

 

Barn Swallows build their nests out of mud. The mud becomes shaped like pellets as the swallows pick it up and carry it in their mouths, and if you look closely at a swallow nest you'll see many of the individual mud pellets that make the nest. The nest is heavy, made from a lot of mud, and can be over a foot tall to hold it securely in place on a barn rafter, bridge, or other surface. The open cup on the top of the mass of mud is lined with feathers, horse hair, and other soft items.

 

Barn Swallows and their nests are fully protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which makes it illegal to intentionally kill, injure or take any migratory bird.  It is illegal to intentionally damage or destroy the nest, eggs, or young of a swallow while it is being built or in use.  The Act allows fines or prison sentences for every bird, egg or nest destroyed.

 

For more information on Swallow Nest removal and prevention

www.abolishpestcontrol.com/swallownests.htm

 

To view a detailed list of the birds listed in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act...

www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/intrnltr/mbta/cnvntion.pdf