Typical habitat for Tree Swallows in Kingsboro

Tree Swallows are between 13 to 15 cm (5 to 6 inches) long, with a weight of 16 to 25 grams (0.56 to 0.88 ounces). Their wingspan is from 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 inches). They have a tiny dark bill and a forked tail. Adult males and females are similar in appearance. Young females are slightly different. Adult males have a shiny blue-green back, with a white belly. Young females have a dull brownish back. Tree Swallows prefer an open habitat - in fields, marshes and wooded swamps. They need standing dead trees in breeding. They eat flying insects such as mosquitoes and flies. Tree Swallows also eat berries, such as bayberries, when insects are not abundant. They pursue individual insects while in flight. They can pick insects off the surface of the water. Tree Swallows have difficulty with predators. Their eggs are most vulnerable from raccoons, weasels, squirrels, mice and chipmunks. Flying and roosting adults can also be preyed upon by birds of prey such as Kestrals, Merlins, Peregrine Falcons, Sharp Tailed Hawks, Great Horned Owls and Red Tail Hawks.

Male Tree Swallow in Kingsboro - June 9, 2007

Tree Swallows are known as cavity nesters. Females construct nests in holes found in hollow trees or man-made nest boxes. They usually nest near water such as marshes and swamps. Nests are cup shaped and made of grasses or pine needles. They line the nests with light coloured feathers of other birds usually ducks.

Tree Swallows are seasonally monogamous. Females lay three to eight eggs from early May to mid-June. The small pure white eggs become glossy as incubation proceeds. The young hatch 14-15 days after incubation begins.

Tree Swallows are the first species of Swallow to arrive on Prince Edward Island, in the Spring - from mid-March to early April. They leave P.E.I. in July/August. They spend the winter in the southern U.S.A., Mexico and the Carribean. They form huge flocks during migration and migrate only during the day.

Tree Swallows are very important. They help control populations of insect pests like mosquitoes and other flies. They are known to eat at least 800 mosquitoes a day. Tree Swallows are a natural method of pest control that reduced the need for insecticides or other toxic sprays.

Tree Swallows need our help. Deforestation and other development causes destruction of essential breeding habitat. Tree Swallow Nest Boxes creates nesting habitats to help offset the lost due to deforestation. Theses boxes are readily accepted by nesting pairs of tree swallows. They are an easy and afforable way to help local wildlife. A pattern for these boxes may be found HERE. Through the gracious assistance of the Shell Environmental Fund and the Souris Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation, local Grade VI students at Rollo Bay Consolidated, Grade VII & VIII students at Eastern Kings Consolidated and Grade VIII students at Souris Consolidated were offered a presentation and constructed Nesting Boxes. The students placed them on their properties and made additional boxes for the general public. Staff members of the Souris Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation constructed boxes for area Senior Citizens on rainy days.

Boxes were installed at Annandale (1), Bear River (5), Bedford, NS (1), Bothwell (2), Bridgetown (1), Campbell's Cove (2), Cardigan (1), Chepstow (10), Dunstaffnage (1), East Baltic (3), East Lake (2), East Point (4), Eglington (1), Elmira (2), Entry Island, PQ (3), Forest Hill (1), Fortune (9), Fortune Bridge (6), Gowan Brae (5), Grant Road (1), Howe Bay (1), Kensington (1), Kingsboro (4), La Pleche, PQ (1), Lakeville (3), Little Harbour (6), Little Pond (6), Meadowbank (1), Midgell (1), Montague (1), Monticello (2), Munns Road (2), New Zealand (3), Newport (1), Omemee, ON (1), Priest Pond (2), Red Point (4), Rock Barra (3), Rollo Bay (2), St. Catherines (5), St. Charles (6), Selkirk (1), Sheep Pond (4), Souris (22), Souris Line Road (3), Souris River (10), Souris West (11), Stratford (1) and Vernon River (1).

Boxes should be placed about 40 to 50 feet away from one another Boxes MUST be placed out of reach of household cats. Once the swallows have begun using the nest box, do not open it to look at the young. Do not place any materials inside the nest box. Do not paint the box. Leave it completely natural. The nest box should be cleaned once a year after the swallows have departed.

www.flickr.com Souris & Area Branch PEI Wildlife Federation's Tree Swallow Project - 2007 photoset

Other swallows who commonly nest in P.E.I., include the Bank and Bank Swallows. Cliff Swallows are seen occasionally. The brown and white coloured Bank Swallows may be found swooping for insects in locations such as East Point. Here they nest in colonies, in dug out earthen burrows. The more colourful bluish Barn Swallows raise their young in mud nests inside old barns, boatsheds and under the eaves of houses. They seek safe shelter from predators and poor weather. One location they may be seen, is around North Lake.

www.flickr.com Souris & Area Branch PEI Wildlife Federation's Swallows photoset

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Souris Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation

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