Monday, July 21, 2008

Why are they called Cliff Swallows when they live under bridges?

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Cliff Swallows are always so much fun to watch and I was happy to find a huge colony near home. I often swing by if I get near just to sit and watch the feeding of the babies.


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Feed me!


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No, feed me! Why does this baby and the one above it look different? Are they different kinds of swallows or just different stages of development?


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Would you go away so I can feed my babies?


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They build their nests very close together, right on top of each other even. I don’t think people would be very happy living this close.


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They are amazingly quick and this is the best I could do at trying to catch one in flight.


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The nests extend the entire length, from one side of the bridge to the other. I think it odd that they all chose the south side of the bridge. Only a handful made nests on the north side. I wonder why that is.  Imagine how many mosquitos we would have if not for these guys.

22 comments:

  1. Another first for me! Incredible shots...and yes, we humans do live like that...think condominiums in Florida :-) As for why they live under bridges vs on cliffs...well I'm guessing we've built them some pretty nice and easy to get to "cliffs" that they find more pleasing and/or protected.

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  2. Great shots! Must have been quite difficult to get them, huh? But you did extremely well! Love the virtual Zooming out! Bravo!
    Cheers, Klaus

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  3. Maybe the ones on the north side of the bridge are the outcasts. You know "THOSE" families! ;0) You are brave for heading under there with all of those dive-bombing birds around!

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  4. Do they do their cliff dwelling city slicker style? You amaze me by the way you find the most extraordinary things.

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  5. I know I sound like a broken record but....

    Great shots, Lisa!

    So, how many did you catch in your hair?? :)

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  6. I love to watch swallows. In places more heavily traveled by humans, they usually go about their business whether or not you are there.

    Good pictures! They ARE quick!

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  7. Gosh - that's a lot of them !
    I tried to catch some normal swallows here in my neighborhood, but they are SO quick. They fed two nests with about 10 swallows, didn't get the idea why :)
    And well, I guess the bridge is safer than the cliffs!

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  8. Wow! I kept wondering where they had built their nests....fascinating! I'm wondering about the north and south sides too. Do you think the north sides are the poor cousins?

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  9. I guess the have adapted to the time and made bridges their new cliffs. I think some of them are really confused because they have turned my eaves into cliffs too. Happy tuesday.

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  10. Wow! cool catch for WW! Mine's up too hope you can drop by...

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  11. OMG! Interesting one... Hope you'll visit mine' too.. Happy WW!

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  12. So now how did you get those photos? They remind be of hornets nests or igloos.

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  13. I love swallows so much! I was thinking of doing a wordless Wednesday featuring them as well! Love your pictures even more than the swallows!

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  14. Beautiful photos. What kind of camera are you using? I'd like to buy a new one.

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  15. Those are really cool. I think taking in consideration size of body, people almost live that close together when they live in apartments and more so when they stay in motels. I think the nests are really neat and they are probably called cliff swallows from before the time of fancy bridges. They would build on the south side for light and maximum heat. The metal would warm nicely on the south side and keep the babies warm in the next. They do passive solar heating better than people. Great photos again.

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  16. Very cool! We had a barn swallow build it's nest on the inside of the lockup in our basement before the framing was done. The basement sat for several months waiting for a gap in work so the guys could start framing. We finally had to move it. It was too high up to see into it well, and it had three eggs in it though we had thought it was empty. There was no way to stick it back up on the wall, so dh set it on a bucket in the room hoping the mama would move the eggs or something. The next time we looked, the eggs were gone. I hope the mama swallow got them. Dh took the nest and used some adhesive to mount it to a piece of old wood. He had a brass plaque engraved with a Bible verse and we gave it to a friend who is a bird lover.

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  17. Well Grizzly says..they go on the south side becuse it dries out their nests..faster and those north side ones are just rebels!!

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  18. I don't know much about swallows. If I drive south of town there are colonies of bank swallows where the road cuts through small hills. I've not gotten close enough to see their babies. But the adults are not nearly as colorful as the cliff swallows. You know you are torturing me - cuz I can't come birding with you

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  19. I loved your Dragonfly macro study and these Cliff Swallows too. It’s amazing what you do with a camera. Thanks for sharing. It’s so much easier for me to read the information you include on your NEW blog format too!
    Hugs and blessings,

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  20. Wow cool!!! Maybe they have adapted and build nests under bridges when they can't find any cliffs.

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  21. I have never seen those. I'll have to bring my sons up to look. Thanks for class time. :-)

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