April 19, 2007
Yesterday was my first day home on the farm in over two weeks. The dire reports of the
plights of tree swallows and other insect eaters left me fearing the worst from my exile in
southern California. So, with a certain amount of trepidation, I ventured out to check on our
"bluebird" trail yesterday. (History shows it to be more of a tree swallow trail.) Now
comprising 7 nest boxes, I am pleased to report that no interloping house sparrows are
occupying, or apparently intending to occupy, any of the boxes. I had trapped a couple of
house sparrow cocks from two of the boxes (Nos.1 and 5) on March 31. I am very happy,
and a bit surprised, that pairs of tree swallows now occupy those boxes. Bluebirds continue
to occupy Box No. 4, defending it against all comers: mostly tree swallows.
The score at the moment is: tree swallows 3, bluebirds 1, house sparrows zero, (except in
the barn where its about 26.)
A physical check revealed nothing in the other three boxes; no nests, no nesting material,
nada, zilch, nichts. This morning on our dogwalk we noted a pair of tree swallows atop
recently (March 31) installed Box No.7, one of the vacant boxes. Maybe something will be
happening there soon.
Setting forth into the hollow in back of our house yesterday I enjoyed an idyllic moment.
The sun was warming the recently cold, wet woods. Birds were singing. This mixed with the
sound of Mennonite children singing hymns from the front porch of the school across the
road. Ewes and lambs were calling and answering.
"All's right with the world, at least certain parts of the world." It's a good message to get in
the light of recent news.
As I was out and about in the fields and woods yesterday, few noteworthy birds were
evident. All in all, I would say that spring has not progressed very much since I left on April
4. The Virginia bluebells and may apples have emerged a little more. Our cherry tree is just
beginning to bloom.
I actually saw a brown thrasher in the spring hollow, before I saw heard it. I often wonder if
these guys actually nest here. I see and hear them every spring, but by May they are hard to
find.
When I entered the woods at the back end of the field I flushed a sizable tom turkey, the
first I have seen here this year.
Juncos are still around, many are singing. A white-crowned sparrow visited the ground
below the feeders, the day's only Zonotrichia.
Perhaps my favorite moment yesterday was sitting on the bench in the field watching the
spectacular aerialism of the tree swallows, and also the majestic soaring of the turkey
vultures high above them. Lords of the skies, the small and the big.
Life is good.
Bob Evans
Geologist, etc.
Hopewell Township, Muskingum County
DeLorme 70 A1
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