Hi Bob,
FYI - Today I received the following message from Tim, the naturalist at Sandy Ridge, in response to your swallow comment.
"Wow, what a horrible November day! I just came back from a trail check. A lot of birds are very low; on the ground or slightly higher.
Great looks at-
Yellow-rumped warbler
Chestnut-sided “
Bay-breasted “
Tennessee “
Black-throated Blue “
Black-throated green “
Magnolia “
N Waterthrush
Veery
Scarlet Tanager
Most of the birds are looking for insects. And there’s not a lot to be found with the wind and cool temps. The swallows in the marsh are taking the biggest hit. There haven’t been enough warm days to raise the temp of the water for steady insect hatches. Swallows have a very high metabolism due to their main method of hunting; catching insects in mid-air. As a result, we’ve found several dead Tree swallows the last couple days. I know a healthy Tree swallow doesn’t weigh much, but these were really light. But the weather forecast is for warmer temps, so that should help. And where’s there’s a will, there’s a way… I watched several swallows in the middle of the woods picking insects off of trees!"
Tim Fairweather
Park Manager/Senior Naturalist
Sandy Ridge Reservation
Lorain County Metro Parks
440-327-3626
Patty McKelvey
Sheffield Village; Lorain Cty
Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would I fly away and be at rest.
> Date: Wed, 18 May 2011 12:31:22 -0400
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [Ohio-birds] Dead Swallows in Lorain county
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> We spent the morning walking some of the trails at Sandy Ridge Metropark in North Ridgeville, and were disturbed at the number (6 to 8) of dead swallows (both tree and barn) along the paths. Others seemed to be so (weak?) they didn't fly more than a few feet before re-landing.
> Since I haven't heard of any malady afflicting birds, I am assuming this spring's continued cold, windy, and rainy weather may have delayed the normal insect spawns enough to reduce the Swallow's food supply and be the cause of this ?
> Anybody heard or seen similar occurrences elsewhere ?
>
> Bob
>
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