\nkitsapsun.com
\nBy Joan Carson
\nApril 1, 2007<\/p>\n
“That corner on the barn\u2019s lean-to looks like a good place to put up a swallow house.” That observation was made as my spouse and I sat in the living room. For whatever reason, the view from one window made the barn and its attached structure stand out.<\/p>\n
A birdhouse would face northwest, but it would receive sunshine most of the day. The area surrounding it was open, not closed in by trees or other buildings. This would allow the swallows to make their swift approach to the house without any interference.
\nThere was a time when putting up a house for swallows was simple. That isn\u2019t always the case anymore. Four swallow species will nest in man-made nest boxes or on structures built for human use. Barn swallows nest in barns, carports, garages, gazeboes and other outbuildings. Tree swallows and violet-greens nest in birdhouses. Purple martins use artificial gourds and nest boxes.<\/p>\n
This column is primarily on the violet-green swallow because of two letters. One was from a reader who wanted to put up the correct house for violet-greens. The other was from a reader who had a helpful hint to pass on to anyone constructing that house.
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\nStarlings are a problem for birds that nest in birdhouses. They will take over any house that has an entrance large enough to allow them in. The major problem for swallows is the growing house sparrow population. This bird, that isn\u2019t native to North America, will move into any birdhouse with an entrance hole no smaller than 1-1\/4 inches. It kills the young of any bird already occupying the house. Swallows have suffered the most because that size entrance hole was standard in most birdhouses. The problem was solved for chickadees and nuthatches because they can use an entrance that is 1-1\/8 inches wide.<\/p>\n
A new design for the swallows was searched for and it was the late Hugh Prescott that came up with one. His entrance design keeps house sparrows out of swallow houses. It doesn\u2019t have a round entrance. His original design called for an oblong opening that is EXACTLY 7\/8 inches high and two inches wide.<\/p>\n
The height of the opening can\u2019t vary at all if house sparrows are to be kept out. They have larger heads than the swallows and can\u2019t squeeze through an opening this tight. When it comes to the width, it is important to make it wide enough for the swallow\u2019s broad shoulders.<\/p>\n
Walter J., from Port Angeles, wrote to tell me how he makes the correct entrance hole. It sounds simple, but that\u2019s good.<\/p>\n
“For two years now, I have made violet-green swallow birdhouses with an entrance hole 7\/8 inches high … I drill two 7\/8 inch holes and then join them.”<\/p>\n
We have used Prescott\u2019s design for years. It is why we have nesting violet-greens. A similar design has a different entrance shape, but works equally well. It resembles a horizontally stretched diamond. The top-to-bottom measurement in the center of the diamond is the same, 7\/8 inches. It is 3-1\/2 inches wide. The house\u2019s opening should be set to one side, not centered. It should be about three inches from the bottom of the house.<\/p>\n
Both designs are box-shaped. They are 11 inches wide, 6-1\/2 inches high, and 5 to 6 inches deep. They can be pole-mounted on a building or on the underside of a ceiling or roof. In that case, they don\u2019t need their own roof. Where a roof is needed, it should be hinged to allow for cleaning.<\/p>\n
For information, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Nesting Swallows, P.O. Box 532, Poulsbo, WA 98370.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
kitsapsun.com By Joan Carson April 1, 2007 “That corner on the barn\u2019s lean-to looks like a good place to put up a swallow house.” That observation was made as my spouse and I sat in the living room. For whatever reason, the view from one window made the barn and its attached structure stand out. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[413],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n