Gooseville, WI
Male Tree Swallows Tachycineta bicolor in a territorial dispute over a prime nestbox.
The Daily Bucket is a regular feature of the Backyard Science group. It is a place for the community to note any observations they have made of the natural world around them. Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns of the outdoors that are quietly unfolding around us.
These highly social acrobates migrate and winter together in large flocks. They often gather for a night roost in the thousands or even hundreds of thousands. I've never seen that social togetherness, but then again, they don't winter in Wisconsin.
They do arrive in spring and seriously stake out the best nest sites. I did observe this scrappy bird-style, Greco-Roman knuckle lock water wrestle.
It was brutal.
Tree Swallows winter farther north than any other American swallows and return to their nesting grounds long before other swallows come back.
Tree Swallows have helped researchers make major advances in several branches of ecology, and they are among the best-studied bird species in North America. Still, we know little about their lives during migration and winter.
Tree Swallows pair up to breed but often mate secretly outside the pair. Occasionally a male attends two mates in separate nest sites. Though an individual swallow may have the same mate several years in a row, it is probably faithful to the site rather than the mate.
I'm not only breathless, but feel half drowned.
In a moment they let go of the toe holds and ended the squabble. Winner take all!
This badass bird bucket is now open for spring nesting observations. Have you ever thought to drown your competition for a mate or a nest site? Nah, just kidding.
What's happening in your backyard? Got feisty swallows and a camera?
"Spotlight on Green News & Views" will be posted every Saturday at 1pm and Wednesday at 3:30 pm Pacific Time on the Daily Kos front page. Be sure to recommend and comment in the diary.