June 15, 2007
Tree Swallow Parent and Babies
Every spring since 2004, the Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation have put up and monitored four tree swallow nesting boxes that were assembled by participants at a Friends group program. Monitoring involves observing bird activity from afar, with an occasional quick look into the box by lifting the hinged front panel. This intrusion does not seem to cause undue alarm to the birds, which quickly resume their normal activity after we leave.

This year when we opened the nesting box located near the water in front of the Water Department building, an adult bird flew out. We discovered after we took this photo that another adult bird was in the box, apparently attempting to protect at least two very young birds.