Thought I would share this happy story. I have many barn swallows in my horse barn, a few weeks ago three very small swallows fell out of their nest, I don't know why they left too early, but they couldn't fly, and were sure to be prey to my barn cats when they found them. I have often put baby sparrows back into their nest when I can get to it, but these were from a nest way too high up for me to get too. I'm not too good at heights and ladders in my aging years either. Well, I was beside myself but couldn't figure out how to help them, so I left the barn after chores and let nature take it's course. I really felt bad all night and tried to figure out what I could have done. Then in the middle of my sleep that night, I woke up and sat up with a start and realized I could have put the birds in a pail and hung it from a rafter and maybe the parents would take care of them. Well, it was too late for them.
Yesterday afternoon when I went out to feed the horses, there were 3 little swallows again that had fallen from a nest too high up for me to put them back, so I thought, I'll give my "birds in a bucket" idea a try. I put some straw in the bottom of the pail and put the birds in it and hoisted it up to the rafter. I waited and waited for the parents to go to them, but they didn't seem interested. I though, "Well I tried" and went into the house to brood. This morning when I went out to feed the horses, I noticed an adult swallow flying out of the pail, so I watched, and sure enough, the parents where coming and going with insects to feed the babies. I was so happy, but not half as happy as those sparrow parents I'm thinking.
Just had to share this. Here's a picture, (not too clear) of the bucket. I tried to get one with the parents sitting on it, but they didn't stay long enough for a picture.
