nest box

Competition for nesting cavities

At Fair Meadows Sanctuary, one fact has been made abundantly clear: there is keen competition for nesting sites, both in artificial structures and in tree cavities.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

Tree Swallow nests—a truly feathery feature

Tree Swallow nests—a truly feathery feature

The telltale sign of a Tree Swallow nest is often feathers. In some cases, there are so many feathers, you can’t even see the underlying nest structure of dry grass or pine needles.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

Goose Pond Sanctuary Songbird Nest Results (2022)

Goose Pond Sanctuary Songbird Nest Results (2022)

Songbird box monitors know it is the duty of every good Tree Swallow parent to defend their young. Nine volunteers monitored 116 boxes at Goose Pond and Erstad Prairie in 2022, and reported 485 successfully fledged Tree Swallows.

Photo by Lesley Haven

Potential Impacts of a Spring Freeze in Texas on Songbirds Fledged in 2021

In February central Texas experienced an unexpected deep freeze. Experts reported adverse effects on wildlife including sea turtles, fish, monarchs, and birds. Goose Pond Sanctuary and partners fledged 1,254 songbirds from boxes in 2020 (5.2 per box) and 1,031 in 2021 (4.2 per box).

Photo by Arlene Koziol