Messy Spring Project

There has been a whole lot of dirt moving around at the park.  Most for the city improvements, but nature too has her share of mud-moving jobs.  Barn swallows have home building project in progress at the pavilion.

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Second Brood?

Could this barnswallow be sitting on a second brood?

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Growing up Fast!

Boy did these Barn swallow babies grow up fast!  Seems like just yesterday they were featherless with their eyes shut.

There is still a little puffy hair feathers around the ears, but otherwise, they look almost grown up.

Enjoy!

Robin Clifton

Photo taken August 5, 2012

Barn-swallow Babies First Dinner

The Barn-swallows in the pavilion have hatched.  They are very tiny still and their eyes have not opened yet.   

An exuberant parent arrives with a big dragonfly.  It is almost as big as a baby is!  

No worries ... it is STUFF-ABLE.  ;-)

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Beak Brigade

In the pavilion a few barn swallows have started a 'beak brigade'.  They are flying in at regular intervals with beaks full of mud.  I expect that soon it will make a comfortable nest for their next generation.

Enjoy!

~ Robin



P.S.  Along the lines of moving dirt, allow me to pass along an e-mail recently received:

WE ARE IN NEED OF SOME VOLUNTEERS for our “Dig the Dike project” on Saturday, May 19 at 10:00 am.

As you have heard there is a delta of sand from the roads that has formed at a storm water inlet on the Northwood Parkway side of the lake where it intersects with Hillsboro Ave. This delta makes it nearly impossible to canoe or kayak through area without hitting bottom. So we are going to remove some of the sand by buckets and wheel barrel it up to the street and dump it. The city will than pick it up on Monday.

We are looking for some volunteers to help, men, women, high school students. No skills necessary, just willingness to remove sand from the lake. The bottom of the lake is hard packed sand, no muck at the inlet.  I would like to have at least 10 volunteers. We figure it will take us about two hours to do the project.

Let me know ASAP if you are able to help. We will meet at Northwood Pkwy and Hillsboro Ave at 10:00 am, Saturday.


Thanks

Bob White, President of Friends of Northwood Lake Association

 Hope to see you there! ~ Robin

Mean while, Near the Bridge ...

Perhaps I should say UNDER the bridge.  Barn swallows are busy with nests.  See the mud nest at the top of the photo just left of the lit beam?  If you look carefully, you can see one flying in the shadow on his way out.

Below the bridge, a muskrat was gathering.

Lots of sunshine.  Hope you had a chance to ...

Enjoy!

~ Robin