38/ JULY 2022 THE RIDER Barn Swallow Nest at Katja’s Place


By Linda Glass Ward Since I live near Har-


riston, Clifford and Palmer- ston I travel the roads between those towns fre- quently. In early May of 2021 as I was driving to Palmerston I happened to notice a new horse run-in shed and board fencing in front of an older country home. I had Barn Swallow


shelves and an assortment of screws with me, so I pulled into the lane way to see if the new owners would be interested in hosting Barn Swallows. That is when I met Katja who was busy with two of her horses. She was born in Ger-


many and had lived in Canada for a long time, and had fond memories of Barn Swallows in the stables in Germany where she took


riding lessons as a child. Because I had left my


tools at home, Katja’s hus- band loaned me his tools and ladder. I proceeded to put my small 4x4 inch shelves up in the optimum locations of her stable. Their little barn is


unique because she de- signed it herself. Instead of a standard 3 sided shed, this


barn has a veranda roof, small storage area on one end and a wall blocking wind and snow from filling up the horses’ shelter. It also has a peaked roof (instead of a shed roof) and two open- ings for horses to go in and out.


I placed the shelves in


the spots I felt were the best for success. Already a Robin


had a nest inside on a hori- zontal 2x4. Robins often place their nests on long boards but Barn Swallows rarely do. Barn Swallows perceive that rats, snakes and other predators will reach eggs or nestlings on long shelves. I had observed in other locations that Barn Swallows often choose the highest point, so I put the


96-ACRE EQUINE FARM IN ERIN


shelves up high in the peak of the roof on both sides of the ridgeboard. I also screwed a number of shelves under the porch roof outside the main stall. As I completed the in-


stallation, several Barn Swallows flew past us. The date was approximately May 10, 2021. There was plenty of time for Barn


Swallows to nest there in the 2021 season, but it can take years for birds to utilize new habitat. The location and de-


sign of Katja’s barn is ideal, because Barn Swallows have already made a nest in- side this year (2022). I will be very interested in finding out how many eggs were laid, how many hatched and how many of the young fledged successfully. I hope they can produce a second clutch this season. Katja sent me a picture


of Barn Swallow hatch- lings in the nest today, June 25 2022, proving the success of my shelf design once more.


For Barn Swallows to


find the location ideal the 4x4 inch shelves need to be 5 1/2 inches down from the underside of the roof or ceil- ing. They often choose the highest point, or the centre of the access door or win- dow, which should be open, from mid April to Labour Day. Shelves should be placed 4 feet apart and should not face each other. Please help Barn Swal-


lows and other Swallows or other native birds. There are many small things you can do. Please contact me on Facebook or by telephone; Linda Marie Glass Ward (The barn Swallow Carpen- ter) 519 327-4541.


Storybook setting, stone home with high baseboards, original pine floors on 2nd level, stone accent walls and deep windowsills. Clear land with 60 acres in crop, 15 in hay and 6 acres of paddocks. Outbuildings include a solid bank barn with 7 stalls and 1.5-car garage/workshop, a drive shed and a 70’x128’ indoor arena. There’s also a sand ring, a newer hot tub, above ground pool and hard-wired generator. $4,499,000


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