Nest Box #31: Violet-green Swallow Nest June 28- July 13

Feeding Nestlings

Violet-green Swallow Nest June 15-28: Egg Hatching Violet-green Swallow Nest June 1-13: Nest Building and Egg Laying Main Nest Box Project Page Western Bluebird Nest Box Pictures Wildlife Observatory (live web cams) Nest Box Camera Installation Main Web Camera Installation Page James Reserve Web Site

On June 1st, a few days after the western bluebird hatchlings were preyed upon by a gopher snake, a pair of Violet-green Swallows, Tachycineta thalassina, started to bring nest material into nest box #31. On the night of June 10, the first egg was laid. Their nest is made of dried grasses, pine needles and feathers which were added to the previous western bluebird nest. On June 28, the 3 eggs hatched. Both parents enter the nest box and feed the chicks. After watching the nest box for an entire hour on June 30 at 2:00 pm, it is apparent that the female or male brings food to the chicks about every 4 minutes on average. However, the female is the only parent which sits and warms the chicks after they have eaten. Click on the thumbnail images to see enlarged photos. To see earlier pictures click on Violet-Green Swallow Nest June 1-13 for nest building and egg laying pictures or June 15- 28 for egg hatching pictures. UPDATE (by Sheri): On July 13, 2000 a webcam viewer sent us an email alerting us that something was in the nest box. It turns out that it was a baby ground squirrel or chipmunk (most likely a squirrel because they are more common and what I saw on the webcam did not have stripes). I got to the box in time to save the other two nestlings but the squirrel had eaten part of the third nestling. I immediately put sheet metal around the base of the tree. I hope the nestlings make it one more week because by that time they will be strong enough and mature enough to fledge the box. Thanks to the web viewer that alerted us to the predator! June 28, 2000 8:55 am June 29, 2000 8:38 am   June 30, 2000 2:03 pm June 30, 2000 2:09 pm July 2, 2000 11:16 am   July 3, 2000 8:34 am July 6, 2000 8:36 am July 6, 2000 10:43 am   July 8, 2000 9:41 am   July 13, 2000 8:39 am   July 13, 2000 12:43 pm   July 14, 2000 9:37 am          Quick Violet-green swallow nest box history facts  Violet Green Swallow Links June 1, 2000: A pair of Violet-green swallows started bringing in nest material and moving around the previous western bluebird nest material in nest box #31. June 10, 2000: Female laid her first egg sometime in the middle of the night or early morning on the 11th. June 11, 2000: Female laid second egg sometime in the middle of the night or early morning on the 12th. June 12, 2000: Female laid third egg sometime in the middle of the night or early morning on the 13th. June 13-28, 2000: Female incubates the eggs. Several feathers have been added to the nest since the first egg was laid. June 28, 2000: 3 eggs hatched in the early morning. The female and male remove the eggshells from the nest box. Since that time, both the female and male are busy feeding the nestlings. For detailed notes on the feeding behavior, click on the Detailed Nest Box #31 Observations in the right hand column. July 7, 2000: The nestlings are over a week old. Their feathers are coming in thicker. The female is not spending as much time in the nest box keeping the nestlings warm (during the day). She and the male are constantly catching and bringing them food; about every 2-3 minutes. There is an open meadow close to the nest box so the parents don't have to travel far for food. July 13, 2000: Baby ground squirrel got into the nest box and ate (partially) one of the nestlings.     Violet-green Swallow Facts and Detailed Nest Box #31 Observations The Birdhouse Network: Violet-green swallow species information, nest box designs and more. USGS Violet-green swallow species information. VGI Vision Foundation: Violet-green swallow species accounts, sounds and pictures