Our Tree Swallows 



By M. LOUISE BROW^N, Edgewood, Rhode Island 

 With photographs by the author 



WE ALWAYS speak of these birds as "our" Tree Swallows, because 

 they came back to us a second season after nesting near our porch, 

 and the delight at being recognized by them was a great pleasure. 



The birds were annoyed considerably, when they first nested here, by 

 House Sparrows, and they took and kept possession of a bird-house only with 

 our assistance in clapping our hands to frighten the Sparrows away. They soon 

 learned that we were at war wnth the Sparrows, and seemed to call for us when 

 they needed help. 



The young were brought up carefully, and we were very lonely when they 

 left us, wondering if they would come back again. The bird-house was made 

 ready for them early, and on April 8, 1914, I heard the little cry I knew so 

 well, heralded the news over the house, and rushed to the porch. There they 

 were quarreling again with the Sparrows for the same house. 



So confident was I that they were our old friends that I clapped my hands, 

 and to my great joy the Sparrows flew away, while the Swallows remained; 

 one stood still on a branch of sumac nearby and the other circled over my head 

 singing Tsweet-weet-tsweet-weet, interpreted by me as: "We trust you and have 

 come back." 



Then one lit on the door-sill and tried to enter. She (if it were she) seemed 

 troubled, called to me again, then to her mate, and chatted constantly as I 

 tried to tell her how glad I was to see her, until, finally, I realized that she 

 could not enter the house. So I quickly brought a step-ladder and found 

 that the Sparrows had worked overtime w^hen no one was watching. House- 

 cleaning was soon done and — must I tell it? — the Sparrows were so persistent 

 in trying to rebuild their nest that heroic measures were used against them. 



Our birds were once more in possession of the old homestead, and we 

 expected all happiness for them, not realizing that trouble was in store from 

 other Swallows, possibly their own children, who tried for the same quarters. 

 Hurriedly we made another house from a starch-box and placed it near house 

 No. I. 



But, much to our surprise and disappointment, the old birds would not 

 have any other tenants nearby. So we built a third house and fastened it to 

 a rose-pole in another section of our grounds, trusting that our friends would 

 have no objection to new-comers if they lived two hundred feet away. That 

 plan did not suit them either. They fought all comers, and tried for possession 

 of all three houses, and kept us in doubt for a time as to which house they 

 really intended to live in. 



Soon they showed a very jealous disposition. One morning, about six 

 o'clock, a duel between our Mr. Swallow and another male was fought in the 

 air. We tried our best, by throwing up caps and sticks to stop the light; but 



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