Update on Tree Swallow Nest

@CarolDM (203396)

Nashville, Tennessee

May 12, 2021 3:07pm CST

I wrote about the Tree Swallow birds building a nest in my backyard Bluebird house a few days ago. Wanted to update you on the status. They continue to hang out at the house. Building the nest, slowly. The weather has deterred them on some days. I checked the house today and was amazed at how big the nest is now. And these types of birds love to add feathers to the nest. The feathers actually look like their feathers. Not sure where they got them from. I may not want to know. But the nest is looking good. It is fully covered in feathers. I will write more about their behavior and update you on the nest soon. Snapped this photo today, while they were not looking of course.

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18 responses

@Juliaacv (56208)

• Canada

12 May 21

I love watching nature thru your posts and photos. You and JJ are both so great at your photography and know what bird/animal is what, I fail at that.

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@Juliaacv (56208)

• Canada

12 May 21

@CarolDM Yes, it amazes me the difference in the regions and the birds as well as the flowers that are out in bloom and when. I'm concerned about him today, I hope that he is okay.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

12 May 21

Thank you so much. I have learned so much already just this year. JJ often has different birds than I get. I always learn from him as well. I am always learning. So exciting in my yard right now.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

12 May 21

@Juliaacv I also am concerned, and feel helpless. I do know what he is going through. Surely he knows we are here for him. And he has siblings he is close to I believe. It still takes a toll.

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@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)

• United States

13 May 21

Very Clever! I'm not sure I'd want to know where they got the feathers from either.

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@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)

• United States

13 May 21

@CarolDM I love to just listen to them too. I've spotted a lot of cardinals lately.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 May 21

@ScribbledAdNauseum Same here but I can't find their nest.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 May 21

I think it is amazing to watch the behavior of the birds.

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@kobesbuddy (78833)

• East Tawas, Michigan

12 May 21

My grandma use to have barn swallows, they were black/tan&gray birds. This is amazing, how the tree swallow builds a nest!

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@kobesbuddy (78833)

• East Tawas, Michigan

12 May 21

@CarolDM The barn swallows used mud to form a nest, beneath the barn's overhang. It looked like a hornet's nest, made out of mud.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

12 May 21

@kobesbuddy Yes I have seen pictures of them nesting in a barn.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

12 May 21

Yes they are different. Have not seen those around. The feathers are so cool to see.

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@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

13 May 21

Same here, the weather seems to be disrupting the birds activities. During some of the iffier days, there has not been so many feathered visitors to the feeders

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@Ronrybs (21503)

• London, England

14 May 21

@CarolDM It is raining here, again!

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 21

@Ronrybs Yikes. Oh well, still wishing sunshine for you.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 May 21

Seems to be getting better, mostly sunshine now. I am seeing a lot of birds.

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@DocAndersen (54399)

• United States

13 May 21

i love the nest! Tree Swallows are almost as pretty as blue birds!

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 May 21

@DocAndersen Thanks!

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 May 21

They are very pretty for sure. A cool nest. Like a down comforter.

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@DocAndersen (54399)

• United States

13 May 21

@CarolDM it is really cool - great picture!

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@Prabhatsingh (3537)

• India

13 May 21

Oh, nice. Looks like they are ready to move into their new home.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 May 21

They are working on it.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 May 21

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@Prabhatsingh (3537)

• India

13 May 21

@CarolDM That's nice. Keep us updated.

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@sjvg1976 (42727)

• Delhi, India

13 May 21

May be they add feather to keep the nest warm or to add some finishing to their nest

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 May 21

It is their style to add feathers.

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@RebeccasFarm (91299)

• United States

14 May 21

Lovely Carol, you have lovely things to write about.

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@RebeccasFarm (91299)

• United States

15 May 21

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

14 May 21

Thanks! Just whatever is around me.

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@moffittjc (128831)

• Gainesville, Florida

13 May 21

That is pretty cool that they add feathers to the nest. I’ve never seen any birds do that before.

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@moffittjc (128831)

• Gainesville, Florida

14 May 21

@CarolDM Well, after millions of years, at least one bird species has figured it out!

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 May 21

I know, the nest feels like a down comforter. Lucky babies.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

15 May 21

@moffittjc Seems like they do.

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Margaret Mwangi

@Missmwngi (12915)

• Nairobi, Kenya

12 May 21

They must have a good hunting skills to be able to collect all those feathers

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

12 May 21

Yes, it is part of their genetics I have read about. I will write later about the reasons for this behavior.

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Margaret Mwangi

@Missmwngi (12915)

• Nairobi, Kenya

12 May 21

@CarolDM Mmmh looking forward to that

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@LindaOHio (222285)

• United States

13 May 21

Thanks for the update. Looking forward to some little ones.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 May 21

I hope so soon. No eggs yet.

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@Rashnag (30597)

• Surat, India

13 May 21

Good to know. You are a nature lover. Have a good day. Take care

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@Rashnag (30597)

• Surat, India

14 May 21

@CarolDM your welcome dear

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 May 21

Thanks!

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Nevena Zivkovic

@Nevena83 (66063)

• Serbia

15 May 21

She looks so tucked away. I have an owl's nest on a tree next to my house and little owls are heard every night.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

15 May 21

Those are only feathers, no bird was in there when I took the photo. Looks like it.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

15 May 21

@Nevena83 I have many and will share at some point.

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Nevena Zivkovic

@Nevena83 (66063)

• Serbia

15 May 21

@CarolDM I'm sure you'll take a picture of the full nest soon.

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@Laurakemunto (13787)

• Kenya

12 May 21

Nature Is great it's amazing how they do their nesting. Good and fine pic as always

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

12 May 21

Thank you! I love learning about nature.

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@Laurakemunto (13787)

• Kenya

12 May 21

@CarolDM nature is amazing and teaches us so much I love it too!

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@ptrikha_2 (49753)

• India

13 May 21

I am getting to know more about Swallows. Itvis fascinating to observe different birds' behavior. Have a nice Thursday.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 May 21

They are fascinating. I have never witnessed them build a nest.

@wolfgirl569 (135601)

• Marion, Ohio

13 May 21

They will lay eggs soon

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 May 21

I hope so, this has been going on awhile now.

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Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (69157)

• Centralia, Washington

12 May 21

Those are quite the feathers. Those babes will stay toasty for sure.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

12 May 21

I am amazed to see so may feathers.

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 May 21

They certainly seem to have a lot of feathers there.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

13 May 21

Yes that is how they prefer their nests. Amazing.

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