Would you like to have tree swallows in your garden? These friendly birds often visit in spring, but few bird lovers have succeeded in getting them to nest.
Unfortunately, sparrows usually fill all the birdhouses two weeks before the swallows arrive.
But you can prevent their taking over all the avian real estate by leaving each birdhouse without a floor until the swallows come.
Sparrows will enter the house with nesting material and fall through. Then, after several unsuccessful attempts, they give up the house and look elsewhere for one with a floor.
Arrival Of Swallows
When the swallows arrive, they will sit on the perch, but they will not enter a floorless house.
Wait two or three days before replacing the floor, then do it only if the weather is favorable.
If unpleasant weather follows the day after the floor is put in the birdhouse, the swallows will leave to return when it is warmer.
Meanwhile, sparrows will build a nest in the house. Remove the floor and sparrow nest if this should happen in your birdhouse.
Replace the floor the next day if swallows are seen around the house. The chances are ten to one that will be in the house before you get off the ladder.
That is possession! No sparrow can drive the swallow out. If a sparrow should sit on the house, swallows will dive-bomb or pin him to the ground.
Swallows in the House
If swallows enter your house without nesting, move the house to a new location away from tree branches.
For best results, place it about 9′ feet from the ground with the opening facing south.
When the young swallows leave the house, remove the floor and let the weather “clean” the house until next spring. If this is not done, the persistent sparrows will move in.
44659 by J. H. Mura