Update on our lone parent swallow

[Ladywell]

See - Urgent - swallow help needed thread for the history of this -
Briefly next door's cat killed one of the adult swallows and this is the continuing story:

Once they are a bit bigger they will sit on the edge of the nest and then I will take some pics - want them to have minimum of disturbance at the moment. In the past, when they first fledge they 'park up' on my washing line (disused at the moment!) and then I will be able to get some great pics as they are such confiding little birds!
We have now moved the shelf which the bl**dy cat was sitting on when it caught the adult so, hopefully. they will be safe - plus said cat has been on the receiving end of a few buckets of water since so she stays away!
I once reared a baby swallow from 2/3 days old - it was the most magical experience I have ever had - it went everywhere with me so that I could feed it regularly. My neighbours thought I had lost the plot when I was netting flies off the hedge to let them go in the house so that it could have some catching practice before I released it.

[david156]

Good to hear that they are still growing and being fed. Lets hope the weather is ok so that the lone parent can get food easier for them. looking forward to the pictures.

David

Originally Posted by Ladywell

My neighbours thought I had lost the plot when I was netting flies off the hedge to let them go in the house so that it could have some catching practice before I released it.

lost the plot! No wonder you fit in on WAB

[Ladywell]

Update - still going well - but have counted 4 little beaks poking over the edge of the nest - I do hope there are no more as I feel they will struggle as they get bigger.

[Kayleigh]

I was in Greece watching swallows fledge, two fledged flew round with their parents for a while then all four went back into the nest I have never known any bird go back to the nest after they have fledged.
They came out later then I had to get the bus to the airport home.

[Ladywell]

'Our' swallows have always gone back to the nest for a few days - during the day they roost on my washing line - even when they have made their 'maiden' flight they still come back and roost on the washing line at night for up to 2 weeks - parents join them to roost. We have strings of baler twine in our barn for the same purpose!

The only other bird I know which returns to the nest are treecreepers - I have seen them fledge from a bat box and 'perch' on the back plate - and then scurry back up into the box if disturbed.

Keep your fingers crossed for our swallow family! I will post some pictures when they are out of the nest but I don't want to disturb them at the moment.

[Ladywell]

Still good news - four little gapes poking over edge of the nest and parent making very frequent visits. Keep your fingers crossed everyone!

[Za]

Good to hear, sounds like you are almost there!
Good luck
Za

[Ladywell]

Thank you Za - I will post some pics as soon as I feel that it is safe to do so when I am not interfering with what is a very difficult situation

[Ladywell]

All four babies still thriving - I have taken first photo today (waited until I heard parent come into to feed & go and just got one pic). I am not good at uploading photos - although I have tried to reduce it, it still says 'file too big'! Can anyone pm me so that I can send them the photo to put on for me please? Thanks.

[Ladywell]

All four babies still thriving and lone parent still on overtime!! Have taken another couple of pics today but I do need some help to upload them!! I have reduced them to thumbnails but the when I try to put them on here it says 'image to big' - help plese?