Category: Articles

18 JUL

House sparrows horn in on swallow nests


Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune – Jul 12 12:14 PM
Q In early July, I noticed that house sparrows had moved into the nests of the cliff swallows on the west side of our building at work. Swallows occupied most of the nests through June, but after July 4, sparrows resided in most of them. Did the sparrows evict the swallows, or did the swallows have time to fledge their young, then abandon the nests?
By The Minnesota Ornithologists Union
Last update: July 12, 2014 – 1:38 PM
Q In early July, I noticed that house sparrows had moved into the nests of the cliff swallows on the west side of our building at work. Swallows occupied most of the nests through June, but after July 4, sparrows resided in most of them. Did the sparrows evict the swallows, or did the swallows have time to fledge their young, then abandon the nests?
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18 JUL

Spot it: Barn Swallow


Pioneer Press – Jul 16 1:09 AM
BY JIM OLICHWIER
Pioneer Press

SPOT IT BARN SWALLOW

The barn swallow is an expert flier, spending much of the daylight hours in flight, moving at high speeds and catching insects on the wing. Its midair acrobatics are unmistakable as it turns and dips at high angles. The bird is almost constantly moving its wings, rarely gliding.
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18 JUL

Detailed information on Bird's Nest Fern, Crow's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)

davesgarden.com One vendor has this plant for sale. Family: Aspleniaceae Genus: Asplenium (ass-PLEE-nee-um) (Info) Species: nidus (NID-us) (Info) Category: Tropicals/Tender Perennials Height: 12-18 in. (30-45 cm) 18-24 in. (45-60 cm) 24-36 in. (60-90 cm) 36-48 in. (90-120 cm) 4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m) Spacing: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm) 36-48 in. (90-120 cm) Hardiness: USDA Zone 11: […]

17 JUL

Chimney swifts birds look 'like reverse smoke'

South Bend Tribune – Jul 10 4:03 AM Watchers come out to watch the birds dive at dusk. SUE LOWE Tribune Staff Writer ELKHART — Birds swirled above the big red-brick chimney at dusk, chittering to each other. One dove down into the chimney, then others, until whole groups were diving down to where they would spend […]

17 JUL

Swift survey as numbers deplete

BBC News – Jul 12 9:14 AM A survey to find out where swifts are nesting in Edinburgh has been launched in a bid to help boost the depleting numbers of the rare bird. Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Ornithologists Club want the public to report sightings of swifts in the city. The renovation of old buildings, […]

16 JUL

Going to the Birds


Epoch Times, NY – Jul 4, 2014
By Ron Haering
Special to The Epoch Times

The city of Khota Bharu in far north-east Malaysia is literally going to the birds  or more precisely, bird’s nest soup. Over two hundred buildings, some seven stories high, have been converted into giant open aviaries to service the lucrative business of farming edible swiftlet nests  renowned in Chinese culture for their health benefits.
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14 JUL

Casualties of Cleanup Nest Removal Kills Baby Swallows.

wolfhollowwildlife.org Skagit Valley Herald, By Teresa Goffredo MOUNT VERNON – Witnesses expressed outrage Friday after watching county housing authority workers scraping swallows’ nests off a five-story downtown apartment building, killing between 20 and 60 hatchlings who were too young to fly and fell to their deaths. “Baby birds were falling and splatting all over the […]