The first sign of spring....

coffeehound

Woolsery said:

It's not proper spring until the first swallow arrives.

About three weeks still to go for our locals I think

Woolsery

coffeehound said:

Woolsery said:

It's not proper spring until the first swallow arrives.

About three weeks still to go for our locals I think

Roughly 10-14 days here, as we're in the south.

Silvertabby

No swallows here, but we do get house martins later in the year.  First sign of those is the chap over the road (aka Victor Meldrew) hosing under his eaves to stop them from building their nests.  

LessImpecunious

Silvertabby said:

No swallows here, but we do get house martins later in the year.  First sign of those is the chap over the road (aka Victor Meldrew) hosing under his eaves to stop them from building their nests.  

Report him - "House martins are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to kill, injure or take an adult bird, or to take, damage or destroy the eggs, young or nest of a house martin whilst it is being built or in use. 

Penalties that can be imposed for criminal offences in respect of a single bird, nest or egg contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is an unlimited fine, up to six months imprisonment or both." (from https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/nestboxes/how-to-attract-house-martins/)

Silvertabby

LessImpecunious said:

Silvertabby said:

No swallows here, but we do get house martins later in the year.  First sign of those is the chap over the road (aka Victor Meldrew) hosing under his eaves to stop them from building their nests.  

Report him - "House martins are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to kill, injure or take an adult bird, or to take, damage or destroy the eggs, young or nest of a house martin whilst it is being built or in use. 

Penalties that can be imposed for criminal offences in respect of a single bird, nest or egg contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is an unlimited fine, up to six months imprisonment or both." (from https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/nestboxes/how-to-attract-house-martins/)

He wets under the eaves, so the house martins can't even begin to build their nests.  Even he's not that stupid! 

Last year we had a nest under the eaves over our bedroom window.  The chicks were noisy, and I had to swill down the mess from under the window every morning, but they  were so cute! 

LessImpecunious

Would have thought that might help the mud to stick?! ... surely he can't keep his eaves permanently wet throughout the nesting season? And if any mud was attached inbetween hosings that would count as "while it is being built". Can only hope his water bills might deter him, or maybe his eaves will begin to leak!

Silvertabby

LessImpecunious said:

Would have thought that might help the mud to stick?! ... surely he can't keep his eaves permanently wet throughout the nesting season? And if any mud was attached inbetween hosings that would count as "while it is being built". Can only hope his water bills might deter him, or maybe his eaves will begin to leak!

Well, his cunning plan certainly didn't work last year - he had a nest right over his back door! 

LessImpecunious

  perhaps he was just washing his eaves to give them a nice clean nesting site!