[Tweeters] Where have all the Swallows gone?

[Paula Crockett/Martin Gibbins via Tweeters]

Hans, For eleven years, we’ve lived on Lake Joy in rural East King county. The first few years, we had many swallows: 40-50 Barn, 20-30 Tree, and 10+ Violet-Green (that used to swoop down to grab our cat’s fur from our lawn for nesting material). In the past few years, we’ve seen noticeably fewer swallows. This year, we’ve had perhaps 10 Barn, a couple of Violet-Green, and approximately 20 Tree. We have four Tree nest boxes, all of which have been occupied this summer, with two pairs now incubating a second clutch. That has been encouraging.
Coincident with this decline has been the construction of many more homes with the inevitable loss of natural habitat, more light pollution, more outdoor cats, the use of “bug zappers,” and exterminator companies going door-to-door offering to “rid your property of all mosquitoes and spiders.”
I’ve seen just one House Sparrow here, so I don’t think that’s a big factor. 
We’ve seen fewer species and fewer individuals across the board. We used to see Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches almost daily, but I rarely see them now. Same with Song Sparrows.
In the winter, we used to have as many as 700-800 ducks of many species roosting on the lake at night. In recent winters, we’re lucky to see even 100.
It all makes me sad.
For the birds,Paula Crockett

< On Jul 22, 2024, at 12:20 AM, Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

> 

> Has anyone else noticed that there seem to be less swallows around? We normally have a good number of Violet-green Swallows over the lakes here in Twin Lakes in Federal Way. By this time of the year they have finished breeding and we see more Barn Swallows. Also a couple of pairs of Northern Rough-winged Swallows are present with an occasional Tree Swallow mixed in. Over the last month or longer, I have not seen a swallow of any species on most days. What is up? Are we looking at a decline? How is it in other areas around Puget Sound?

> 

> Good Birding!

> 

> Hans

> 

> -- 

> Hans Feddern

> Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA

> thefedderns at gmail.com<mailto:thefedderns at gmail.com>

> 

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