Re: [SBB] Cliff Swallow Nest Sites

[Gordon Barrett <[[email protected]]>]

Today I traveled the Guadalupe River Trail from Chynoweth to Coleman. 
There are over 100 Cliff Swallow nests, more or less, beneath both 
the Hwy 85 overcrossing and the Guadalupe River pedestrian bridge. 
The third overcrossing, at Blossom Hill, has none.  I don't know why. 
Northern Rough-winged Swallows nests are also beneath the crossings 
only at those two of three locations, in the holes provided.

However, neither site has nearly the number of nests and active birds 
seen on June 4th at the Calero Horse Stables old Victorian House at 
the inlet side of the lake(200 birds).  An interesting contrast too 
is the 200 birds found nesting on June 4th beneath the brand new 
Bailey overpass at Monterey Rd.  Clearly, Cliff Swallows can move in 
very quickly and say awhile.  Bailey at Metcalf also had 80 or more 
nesting birds.

All 5 sites are located over or very near fresh water and seem to be 
doing better than those close to the Bay, but it may be too early to 
draw that conclusion.  I note further that Cliff Swallows are nesting 
on large buildings on at least three community college campuses and 
at Stanford.  This is good news until you discover that at each of 
these locations, and others, there have been human efforts to 
eradicate them.  We add to their habitat by accident and try to 
destroy them on purpose.  Go figure.

More later.

Gordon
-- 

Gordon Barrett
[[email protected]]

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