The swallows are back in town

The seasonal construction of swallow nests in the Big Bend brings both the beauty of nature and the contradiction of humans and animals living side by side.

A close observer can watch cliff swallows and barn swallows construct their mud and straw nests and line them with feathers. They exhibit effortless grace as they swoop down and snatch insects from mid-air for their young.

However, swallows are less charming when they build mud nests under eaves, drive away humans from their nests and leave masses of droppings.

If this is daunting to the owner of a bungalow, imagine the scale of the problem for Sul Ross State University. With its hillside location and high eaves, swallows have found it a haven for nesting.

This has created a dilemma for Jim Clouse, SRSU head of physical plant, because a mass of swallow droppings can create a health problem for students and faculty. However, destroying the nests, particularly those of the protected cliff swallow, is prohibited by law.

“Someone called in a complaint to Texas Parks and Wildlife after seeing maintenance staff harass some barn swallows with a garden hose. Because of that, we met with two game wardens regarding our program of controlling swallow nesting,” Clouse said. “We are only concerned here with nesting that creates a health problem - such as when there are drying droppings near walkways and residences. We let them nest at Mountainside, for instance, because it isn’t causing those problems now.

“We have destroyed nests before, but we did it with a Department of the Interior permit after the swallows had left their nests,” Clouse added.

“Our primary method of deterring the swallows from building nests is to harass them with water before they have made any progress building the nest. If they nest elsewhere on campus where there would be no health issues, we’re happy.”

Clouse discussed more subtle methods of controlling the nesting.

“On the Bryan Wildenthal Memorial Library, for instance, we have discouraged the swallows from nesting by using a slick epoxy paint under the eaves. They prefer a rough surface - unpainted wood, plaster or stone.”

If you are a homeowner who has a problem with swallow congregations, please try to use legal methods of controlling them rather than destroying nests with water hoses, shooing the birds with brooms or knocking the nests down. The birds, their nests and contents are protected by both state and federal laws.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department favors the following methods of swallow control:

Remember that birds have an affinity for open skies; hanging plants that blow in the wind, strips of tinfoil or windsocks may discourage birds from nesting near those distractions.

These birds prefer a 90-degree surface under a protective eave; a temporary angled barrier under your eaves will discourage them from nesting there. By doing so, you preserve wildlife for future generations.

When I asked Clouse if he took any steps to discourage them from nesting at his home, he smiled and replied, “Nah. I let ‘em nest. It relaxes me to watch ‘em catch bugs.”

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Avalanche staff

The swallows are back in town

The seasonal construction of swallow nests in the Big Bend brings both the beauty of nature and the contradiction of humans and animals living side by side.