Swallow dilemma

[Kittiwake]

I've had a swallow roosting on a ledge outside my kitchen door (between house and garage) for a few weeks now. Today, there is some mud up there, suggesting they have started building a nest.

The thing is, I was planning on moving house over the next month or two and now I'm concerned. I'm pretty certain that the landlord (a sporting estate) would happily dispense with any inconvenient nests when prepping the property for the next tenant as there'll be droppings on the path etc, plus the general disruption of people walking under the nest (which is just above head height) won't be good.

There is only a tiny amount of mud there at the moment. Do I discourage them from nesting in that particular spot? Otherwise, I'll feel that I have to put plans on hold and sit it out until they've finished...

It's a dilemma. Thoughts appreciated.

[posie]

Hello kittiwake, If I was in your position, I would consider I had choice of 2 options. If I wanted to observe the swallows with their nest and it didn't matter too much that I had to sit it out then I would do that. But if I didn't really want to do that because of the disruptions of my plans then I would definitely act now, remove the little bit of mud and put something there so they couldn't use that spot...they'll find somewhere else, but I would do it A.S.A.P........These are my thoughts. Good Luck...Posie..

[Ladywell]

Not sure what the answer to your dilemma is but what I do know is that walking past the nest will not disturb the sitting bird. For several years now we have had two swallows nests in the passageway at the side of our house . They sit quite happily with us going up and down several times a day. I have washing line in the passage - unused when nesting starts!! Males perch on it at night and babies perch on it when they fledge. I have actually sat on the floor underneath the babies to take photographs. Swallows are brilliant confiding little birds and it is joy to hear them chattering when I am in the kitchen.

Could luck - hope you find answer to the problem.

[Kittiwake]

Thanks Posie - I'll see what's happening out there tomorrow and make a decision then.

Ladywell, that's really interesting what you say about them not being disturbed by people walking past. You must have some great photos too - I'm tempted to set the camera up out there myself!

[Picidae]

Kittiwake - You must leave them alone to nest. The male takes some time to select the nest site (to which they tend to remain faithful) and disturbing them now could set back their breeding chances for this season. They've already started building so any disturbance/interference you make now could be seen, strictly speaking, as being in contravention of the WCA and against the law. Swallows/Swifts/House Martins are all in decline and need all the encouragement we can give them which is probably a better reason at this stage to let them go ahead without disturbance.

Should they continue with the building of the nest, lay eggs etc, and you do decide to move in the meantime, you will have to inform the Landlord so he doesn't inadvertently disturb the nest. You will also need to inform him, if he didn't know any better, that if he intentionally disturbs or tries to move the nest while in use, it very definitely will be illegal and the police can be informed.

The incubation period is normally 14–19 days. Chicks take around 18-25 days to fledge (ready to fly straight from nest)

[posie]

[quote=Kittiwake;628545] . I'm pretty certain that the landlord (a sporting estate) would happily dispense with any inconvenient nests when prepping the property for the next tenant as there'll be droppings on the path etc,
There is only a tiny amount of mud there at the moment.

..Hi Picidae,

Although I entirely agree with all you say under normal circumstances and do have experience of nesting swallows ( 30 odd nests on my property for the last 17years) my reply was based on the circumstances quoted by Kittiwake above. My thinking was that when K moves the chances of the Swallow being able to remain forever faithful to this nesting site are slim, with not only the landlord 'prepping' the property each time a tenant leaves, but also possibly the future tenants. So my thoughts were that it would be better for the bird to move now, hopefully to a safer site. My experience with my swallows is that they (he) will select a new site quickly, and successfully rear young...my experience also is that the babies in a large group of nests can vary a lot in age, and I mean a lot. (ps my birds are ringed every year over quite a long period) ....so I think there is time. Hope this explains my reasoning..Posie

[Kittiwake]

Thanks Picidae. I did wonder if all the roosting over the past few weeks was a drawn-out nesting site selection process. I'm leaving it well alone and am going to stick with them and postpone the move if I can.

I will try to record their progress too (seeing as they're right outside the window). They don't seem to mind seeing us moving about inside through the glass door panel but I got buzzed today when I went out there.

Last summer, I couldn't use the garden because of a hornet's nest which I wasn't prepared to have destroyed. This year, it looks like I'll be avoiding one side of the house due to swallows. I'm hoping that they will perhaps do me a favour and discourage the wasps and hornets from nesting - that would be a good deal.

[Jim Ford]

Swallows always nested in the museum part of BBOWT's College Lake reserve. Dozens of people walked past at weekends, and the swallows didn't seem to mind. They've revamped the reserve, and I've not visited it since, so I don't know what the situation is this year.

Jim