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Hi Henk=2C Nancy and All=2C Having had swallow boxes for over a decade a=
nd working with Randy Lauff and his owl boxes for many years I've seen lots=
and lots of squirrel nests and roosts in bird boxes. There are a couple of=
common factors in deciphering which species of squirrel made the nest/roo=
st in the box. A nest composed mostly of shredded birch bark is almost=
always a Red Squirrel nest. They can also use whatever other materials ar=
e nearby=3B particularly if there are no birch trees in the area. Leaves gr=
ass and found objects are often found in Red Squirrel nest/roosts. Two of t=
he nest/roosts I got this year contained packing from an old cushion they f=
ound in a nearby shed. Flying Squirrel nests are almost always made mo=
stly of fine grasses although other materials can be found in the nest on o=
ccasion. The Flying Squirrel nest I found this year was the same nest I fou=
nd=2C and reported here=2C from last season containing newborn squirrels. I=
left it alone and the mother must have moved the babies to a nearby altera=
nt box. My understanding is that squirrels usually have number of nests/roo=
sts in an area so as to be able to move quickly=2C particularly when they h=
ave young=2C when disturbed. Later in the season Tree Swallows built their =
nest on top of the abandoned Flying Squirrel nest=3B the first time I'd see=
n that happen. Over the years I've learned that you should always tap =
on the nest box when checking it for whatever reason=3B particularly in spr=
ing. Birds and squirrels will usually leave the box when you approach but s=
ometimes when a box contains young they are reluctant to leave=3B even afte=
r tapping. This is particularly true of Flying Squirrels which=2C being noc=
turnal=2C are often asleep when you check the box. You should also take=
care when removing a nest/ roost from a box. Keeping your head to the sid=
e of the opening carefully poke the nest=2C particularly a large one=2C wit=
h a stick before removing it. This will allow the squirrel an escape route =
if it's still in the nest. I've had a squirrel jump on my head and it's not=
something I want to repeat=2C especially when standing on a ladder. Next t=
ake care when removing the nest to check for baby squirrels It's quite easy=
to dump out a bunch of baby squirrels with the nest if you aren't careful.=
Once again I speak from experience. I hope this has been of some hel=
p and if others have more to add or want to correct any mistakes I may have=
made=2C have at it. All the best. =
Fritz McEvoy Sunrise Valle=
y=2C CB (near Dingwall)=20
Date: Sun=2C 5 May 2013 06:37:45 -0300
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Tree Swallow boxes
From: nancypdowd@gmail.com
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
What distinguishes Red Squirrel nests from Flying Squirrel nests in your Tr=
ee Swallow boxes? Different materials? Construction?
Nancy
=0A=
On Sat=2C May 4=2C 2013 at 8:50 AM=2C Fritz McEvoy <fritzmcevoy@hotmail.com=
> wrote:
=0A=
=0A=
=0A=
=0A=
=0A=
=0A=
=0A=
Hi All=2C I finished spring cleaning of my Tree Swallow boxes yesterday=
and the results from last year are my best ever. I have 24 boxes=2C at the=
moment=2C in various locations (open field=2C field with some trees=2C old=
orchard and lawn)=3B heights (7'-12') and mounts (live trees=2C power pole=
s=2C and dead trees stuck in the ground). =0A=
Of the 24 boxes: 2 were empty (one had a Red Squirrel nest and the oth=
er was a new box in a new location)=3B 3 had partial nests with no sign of =
breeding and 19 had nests with breeding evidence. Three boxes had Red =
Squirrel roosts/nests on top of a Tree Swallow nests. One box contained a F=
lying Squirrel nest on top of which Tree Swallows had built a nest with bre=
eding evidence. The top of the swallow nest was less than 3 cm. from the bo=
x opening. It's the first time I've seen Tree Swallows do this. There were =
4 boxes with unhatched eggs=3B 2 with 2 eggs and 2 with 1 egg. No dead chic=
ks were found. =0A=
Swallows have yet to arrive this year but I expect them any day now. =
All the best.
=0A=
Fritz McEvoy =
Sunrise Valley=2C CB (near Dingwall)=0A=
=0A=
=0A=
=
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<body class=3D'hmmessage'><div dir=3D'ltr'>Hi Henk=2C Nancy and All=2C<div>=
 =3B  =3B Having had swallow boxes for over a decade and working wi=
th Randy Lauff and his owl boxes for many years I've seen lots and lots of =
squirrel nests and roosts in bird boxes. There are a couple of common facto=
rs in =3Bdeciphering =3Bwhich  =3Bspecies of squirrel made the =
nest/roost in the box. =3B</div><div> =3B  =3B  =3BA nest c=
omposed mostly of shredded birch bark is almost always a Red Squirrel nest.=
They  =3Bcan =3B<span style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B">also =3B</s=
pan><span style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B">use whatever other materials are nea=
rby=3B particularly if there are no birch trees in the area. Leaves grass a=
nd found objects are often found in Red Squirrel nest/roosts. Two of the ne=
st/roosts I got this year contained packing from an old cushion they found =
in a nearby shed.</span></div><div><font size=3D"3"> =3B  =3B  =
=3B Flying Squirrel nests are almost always made mostly of fine grasses alt=
hough other materials can be found in the</font><font size=3D"3" style=3D"f=
ont-size: 12pt=3B"> =3Bnest on occasion. The Flying Squirrel nest I fou=
nd this year was the same nest I found=2C and reported here=2C from last se=
ason =3B</font><span style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B">containing newborn sq=
uirrels. I left it alone and the mother must have moved the babies to a nea=
rby =3Balterant =3Bbox. My understanding is that squirrels usually =
have number of nests/roosts in an area so as to be able to move quickly=2C&=
nbsp=3Bparticularly</span><span style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B"> =3Bwhen t=
hey have young=2C when =3Bdisturbed</span><span style=3D"font-size: 12p=
t=3B">.</span><font size=3D"3" style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B"> =3BLater i=
n the season Tree Swallows built their nest on top of the =3Babandoned&=
nbsp=3BFlying Squirrel nest=3B the first time I'd seen that happen.</font><=
/div><div><font size=3D"3"> =3B  =3B  =3B O</font><span style=
=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B">ver the years</span><span style=3D"font-size: 12pt=
=3B"> =3B</span><font size=3D"3">I've learned that you should always ta=
p on the nest box when checking it for whatever reason=3B particularly in s=
pring. Birds and squirrels will usually leave the box when you approach but=
sometimes when a box contains young they are reluctant to leave=3B even af=
ter tapping. This is particularly true of Flying Squirrels which=2C being&n=
bsp=3B</font>nocturnal<font size=3D"3">=2C are often asleep when you check =
the box.</font></div><div><font size=3D"3"> =3B  =3B  =3BYou sh=
ould also take care when removing a nest/ roost from a box. =3B</font><=
span style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B"> =3BKeeping your head to the side of =
the opening</span><span style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B"> =3Bcarefully poke=
the nest=2C particularly a large one=2C with a stick before removing it. T=
his will allow the squirrel an escape route if it's still in the nest. I've=
had a squirrel jump on my head and it's not something I want to repeat=2C =
especially when standing on a ladder. Next take care when removing the nest=
to check for baby squirrels It's quite easy to dump out a bunch of baby sq=
uirrels with the nest if you aren't careful. Once again I speak from experi=
ence.</span></div><div><span style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B"> =3B  =3B=
 =3B  =3BI hope this has been of some help and if others have more=
to add or want to correct any mistakes I may have made=2C have at it. All =
the best.</span></div><div><span style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B"> =3B &nbs=
p=3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =
=3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B =3B</span></div><div><=
span style=3D"font-size: 12pt=3B"> =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =
=3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B=
 =3B  =3B Fritz McEvoy</span></div><div><span style=3D"font-size: =
12pt=3B"> =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B &nb=
sp=3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =
=3BSunrise Valley=2C CB (near Dingwall) =3B</span></div><div><br><div><=
div id=3D"SkyDrivePlaceholder"></div><hr id=3D"stopSpelling">Date: Sun=2C 5=
May 2013 06:37:45 -0300<br>Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Tree Swallow boxes<br>F=
rom: nancypdowd@gmail.com<br>To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<br><br><div dir=3D=
"ltr"><div>What distinguishes Red Squirrel nests from Flying Squirrel nests=
in your Tree Swallow boxes? Different materials? Construction?<br><br></di=
v>Nancy<br></div><div class=3D"ecxgmail_extra"><br><br><div class=3D"ecxgma=
il_quote">=0A=
On Sat=2C May 4=2C 2013 at 8:50 AM=2C Fritz McEvoy <span dir=3D"ltr"><=3B=
<a href=3D"mailto:fritzmcevoy@hotmail.com" target=3D"_blank">fritzmcevoy@ho=
tmail.com</a>>=3B</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"ecxgmail_quote" s=
tyle=3D"border-left:1px #ccc solid=3Bpadding-left:1ex=3B">=0A=
=0A=
=0A=
=0A=
<div><div dir=3D"ltr">=0A=
=0A=
=0A=
<div dir=3D"ltr">Hi All=2C<div> =3B  =3B  =3BI finished spring =
cleaning of my Tree Swallow boxes yesterday and the results from last year =
are my best ever. I have 24 boxes=2C at the moment=2C in various locations =
(open field=2C field with some trees=2C old orchard and lawn)=3B heights (7=
'-12') and mounts (live trees=2C power poles=2C and dead trees stuck in the=
ground). =3B</div>=0A=
<div> =3B  =3B  =3BOf the 24 boxes: 2 were empty (one had a Red=
Squirrel nest and the other was a new box in a new location)=3B 3 had part=
ial nests with no sign of breeding and 19 had nests with breeding evidence.=
 =3B</div><div> =3B  =3B  =3BThree boxes had Red Squirrel r=
oosts/nests on top of a Tree Swallow nests. One box contained a Flying Squi=
rrel nest on top of which Tree Swallows had built a nest with breeding evid=
ence. The top of the swallow nest was less than 3 cm. from the box opening.=
It's the first time I've seen Tree Swallows do this.<span style=3D"font-si=
ze:12pt=3B"> =3BThere were 4 boxes with unhatched eggs=3B 2 with 2 eggs=
and 2 with 1 egg. No dead chicks were found. =3B</span></div>=0A=
<div><span style=3D"font-size:12pt=3B"> =3B  =3B  =3B Swallows =
have yet to arrive this year but I expect them any day now. All the best.</=
span></div><span class=3D"ecxHOEnZb"><font color=3D"#888888"><div><span sty=
le=3D"font-size:12pt=3B"><br></span></div>=0A=
<div><span style=3D"font-size:12pt=3B"> =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B =
 =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B &nb=
sp=3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B Fritz McEvoy</span></div=
><div><span style=3D"font-size:12pt=3B"> =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B=
 =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B &n=
bsp=3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3B  =3BSunrise Valley=
=2C CB (near Dingwall)</span></div></font></span></div>=0A=
=0A=
</div></div>=0A=
</blockquote></div><br></div></div></div> </div></body>
</html>=
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