Friday, 11 July 2008 @ 5.36 PM
Empty Nesting
By what I can only describe as a miracle, the only surviving baby (of 6) from the Barn Swallow's brood has decided to leave his makeshift nest and go into the big bad world. This was of no fault but his own, since after finding the box empty, he was then spotted in the landscaping on the side of the house - presumably having made it there on his own.
I'm sad to see him go, but glad that he did survive his whirlwind first few weeks in the world. I am hopeful he will do well on his own now that he can fly. The parents were with him, encouraging him to fly further and higher after he took a few minutes at a time to rest up.
Due to the complete stupidity (or is that inexperience) of the parents, both of the nests came down shortly after it was clear that the baby would not be returning to the Nest In A Box. Besides, it was starting to smell from the 2 dead babies that were left in the nest going on a week now.
Nests removed, the walls have also been soaked down to clean off as much poop and mud as possible. Next year, a new pair of Barn Swallows can build a new nest and the process can then begin once more.