tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post115672023573599308..comments2008-12-13T03:21:25.147-05:00Julie Zickefoosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06654698829603424649noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-1156987143684628242006-08-30T20:19:00.000-05:002006-08-30T20:19:00.000-05:00I was first introduced to the joys of nesting tree swallows in 2004, when I set out natural gourds for purple martins and accidentally attracted tree swallows. I had 5 fledglings that year, 6 in 2005 and only 4 this year - 1 infertile egg and 1 dead nestling. I love these crazy little birds. Not as sweet and homey as my favorite bluebirds, but real party animals. There is nothing better than watching one play with a feather - dropping it and catching it repeatedly. And the first time you are dive-bombed - WHEW! Watching that little jet zoom right at your head only to veer away at the last possible second with a bird expletive tossed out for good measure ... Well, there's no mistaking <I>that</I> message. If it weren't for the fact that they are making it darned hard for me to attract and keep purple martins, I would have no complaints about them. I'm surprised to hear that you had a double clutch, though. I was certain they would only nest once. Maybe I should have kept their gourd out once the spring clutch fledged.<BR/><BR/>Great job on the cavity-nesters totals, BTW!<BR/><BR/>KathiKatDocnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-1156867918493331752006-08-29T11:11:00.000-05:002006-08-29T11:11:00.000-05:00What a wonderful year! Good work! I hope you can add a few box turtle 'fledglings' to your list soon.<BR/><BR/>I was in Berkeley, CA a couple of weeks ago (Visiting from MA.) and went into a used bookstore. Right away, I found your booklet "Enjoying Bluebirds More" (1993!). (I scored it for a buck. Watch for royalty check!) It's fantastic to see you're still practicing what you preach.MojoManhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06096474238114783572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-1156815729525564772006-08-28T20:42:00.000-05:002006-08-28T20:42:00.000-05:00Can we get a "woop-woop" for Indigo Hill and its righteous inhabitants ???Susan Gets Nativehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00216170589750418861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-1156778596451335132006-08-28T10:23:00.000-05:002006-08-28T10:23:00.000-05:00Hearty congratulations to The Bluebird Oracle from your humble manservant.<BR/><BR/>You ROCK, Zick! On behalf of cavity nesters everywhere, thank ewe!BT3http://www.blogger.com/profile/16000245161006147448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-1156774558075525752006-08-28T09:15:00.000-05:002006-08-28T09:15:00.000-05:00Whee-haw! Pop the cork on the champagne and celebrate such a successful season. You make the world a better place.<BR/>S.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19608656.post-1156773001848447352006-08-28T08:50:00.000-05:002006-08-28T08:50:00.000-05:00We had 6 tree swallows fledge on our property this spring. I thought for a while that they might build another nest but that didn't happen. Maybe next year. I was just happy to have any bird but a house sparrow in the box. I hope we are as lucky next spring. I loved getting dive bombed every other day by the parents. You are lucky to have such a great production and they are lucky to have someone like you looking out for them. Great job!!! LoriAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com