Good for you R and R!! a good solution all the way round!!
What a great idea for detering the persistent swallow. Those spare cedar shingles are good for all kinds of things -- providing shade for recent transplants, detering swallows -- what next? (-:
Anyhow, ya did good!
For sure you did the right thing!
I have chickadees nesting here also and worry for them once the house wrens show up. My only solution is to put up lots of boxes and hope that the wren will choose one of the others.
Brilliant solution! You get the Mother Nature award of the week. After all, we are part of nature and who's to say our actions are not part of the whole picture. Glad everyone has a home now.
there is beneficial tampering, and then the other kind. nice solutions.
Good on you both - for your concern, your ingenuity and your consultation with Julie. A great solution for all: the chickadees, the swallow and two smart, caring and blessed humans.
Chickadees are my favorite birds. I'm so glad you tampered.
Ingenious solution! That shows amazing insight into bird behavior.
I've wondered about supply and demand issues with nest boxes. Could many of these squabbles be prevented if we put out enough boxes?
What a fascinating post. I'll admit I don't know much about swallow behavior, but I wouldn't have thought a swallow would have taken over a nest with another species actively feeding their young in there. I see nothing at all wrong with your actions. In fact, you have benefited all involved with an innovative compromise. If only the politicians in our country would think this hard to come up with solutions to our countries problems.
Very cool idea and although I would have loved to see the swallows, I wouldnt' have liked them to kill my chickadee! Thanks for your great idea!
Ain't nuthin' wrong with erring on the side of life. For every bird you save, there are thousands more being killed by, say, an unnaturally-sustained high population of domestic cats; by too many automobiles; by plate glass windows. You're just offsetting the human-induced carnage that's an every day occurance among birds.
Besides, karma allows for good intentions. You done good, R&R.
Everyone-- Thank you for confirming what we thought was truly an elegant solution to this problem.
An update: By late Sunday we realized that we had only been seeing one of the chickadees going in and out of the nest all day. Their typical behavior has them crossing paths quite often. Roger is going to open the nest box once more to see if something has gone awry with one of the parents in there. If s/he is not there, then it may be that it met an untimely fate. It does happen in our yard that hawks and bobcats find a meal here. We did wonder if there had been any actual fighting between the swallow and chickadees that may have resulted in injury. I'm going to keep my eyes open today to see if there are two parents. We'll keep you all posted.
Great job, Dharma Bums! You rock! I don't think you were interfering nature so much as using your own intelligence to improve things. After all, you gave Mama Swallow an option that worked and saved a whole family of Chick-chick-chickadees! Good days work, I say!
This is a truly great story. That's why I stop by.
I hope the update gives you something conclusive, even if it has to be bad news.
I don't believe you will have anything to apologize for to anyone, anywhere!
That you correspond with someone I listen to on the radio blows me away...
alan
What an interesting post. I'm glad you two figured out a solution that involved leaving the swallow a nest, and helped the chickadees. It's amazing how you managed to solve the problem. I doubt I would have thought of it.
This was a classic Robin and roger post!
Feeling better or just energized by such a challenging backyard!
Neat solution and pretty darn cool that both birds get what they need.
So you fiddled a little with survival of the fittest, big deal.
I think no apology is needed.
... well, maybe the swallow should say something ...
that was a great story, very informative and I think you did the right thing. When we put up feed or nest boxes, we are already interferring with nature. Our existence alone does that; so major kudos for resolving this in a fair way.
love the new pics, everyone in their own home. ahhhhh....
lucky birds, to have such kind and attentive humans near by. what will you bleeding heart liberal hippies come up with next?
So sweet of you guys to act on the chickadees' behalfs; it seems to me we need as many of both kinds as will thrive. Last night we saw innumerable swallows swooping over Green Lake, sucking up insects, and I'm sure chickadees play some kind of beneficial part in the environment. Now, the blasted starlings are a different story, their population is way out of whack around Seattle. Guess they give the cats something to chase. 
I thought you would like to see "my" babies!
Wow. Love the little nestling chicks. Waiting for another update.
What a great story - thanks for stepping in and thanks for sharing!
Everyone-- Thank you for your thoughtufl comments. FC made me laugh. Yes, the swallow does need to apologize, I completely agree. The babies are doing fine. There are four in the box, and they look good. Both parents have been seen and are actively feeding and caring for them. The Violet Green Swallow has taken up residence in the new nest box. She was seen flying in and out all day building her nest. I have not seen her mate, though. We'll see how well she does this year. She is a beauty.
We had to have our patio cover redone due to termite damage, but alerted the crew to the presence of the bird's nest in the eaves. They were careful, and the nest was fine, birds safe if a bit perturbed.
Ah, the things we do for our birds. ;^)
I'm going to borrow a quote here and say that it seems all's well that ends well. Sounds like except for the little dead bird, thanks to you guys, all your feathered friends are gonna be fine.
A remarkable and wonderful story--Robin defending the nest with a net on a pole, Roger with his ingenious emergency carpentry, and the consolation prize for the swallow. Thanks for tampering with nature.
Late to the party - and I'd have to agree with FC. This is a classic Roger and Robin Andrea post! You guys always help me to "face the light"!
Oh, Robin and Roger, how I love you for your peaceful interaction with the creatures of the earth. It's a huge reason to come by here. Thank you, from the bottom of my little bird-loving heart!
A very elegant soloution to the problem. Time to patent the chickadee-specific bird house?
I personally wouldn't have intervened, but I can't fault you for the manner of your intervention. It's an object lesson in the importance of mixing creativity with one's compassion.
Brilliant! I'm not sure I would have thought of that although it seems obvious now that you've mentioned it.
I think that if we're hanging nest boxes we should manage them some. I think you did the right thing!
BOY. Almost always, you surprise me with the richness of your lives in taking care of the littlest guys around. I was thrilled to read your belief, "If you set up feeders, boxes, etc., then you also Take on Responsibility. Hence...the apology word doesn't even belong here. You did MORE than your best and it all worked, and your fan base have had another thrill ride. Chickadees are the most fabulous when they bring fledges to feeders since they seem to bring them ALL at once, ALL cheeping, calling, traveling in a family for at least two or three days. I love 'em. THANKS Robin for making my day.
This is a fabulous post. I love the story of your noticing the problem, trying a creative solution, getting advice, and making a home for the swallow too.
I hope you will consider sending a link to a garden-related post (like this one) to my Sunday Garden Tour round up. I'd love your contributions!
You were definitely on the right track.
In Australia many birds are hollow nesters and will accept the right shaped bo. Trouble is that introduced Starlings, House Sparrows and Indian Mynahs are also determined nestbox thieves. Our nestboxes have to have a specially designed baffle to thwart the pests, and preferably, no exterior perch on the box. All parrot species need hollows but with habitat destruction, natural ones are hard to find.
Boxes can also be invaded by honeybees, European wasps and possums.
Wow, what a nice little box and great use of cedar wood too. Does this have a webcam too. We bought a cedar nest box camera . We seem to have had more success with cedar boxes than ply or pine. The birds seem to know quality. :o) Mark
Commenting by HaloScan
