Barn Swallow
Nest Cam

Several barn swallow nests are being videotaped for varying lengths of time. All are in artificial nests. At two nests, the camera was placed directly over the nest through a hole in the floor above the nest. Other nests are viewed from the side.

Check the 2004 trial study of the weather cam and quad processor at the bottom of this page

The following still photos are taken from a single frame of video from the 6 hr vhs tapes. This process results in a substantial loss of quality compared to the original camera image and vhs tape.

2001 Barn Swallow Nest Cams

ARTIFICIAL NEST "R"

6/12/2001
6/16/2001
6/19/2001
6/22/2001
6/25/2001
6/28/2001

6/15/2001
6/17/2001
6/20/2001
6/23/2001
6/26/2001
6/29/2001

6/16/2001
6/18/2001
6/21/2001
6/24/2001
6/27/2001

ARTIFICIAL NEST "L"

6/1/2001
6/4/2001
6/6/2001
6/7/2001

6/2/2001
6/5/2001
6/6/2001
6/8/2001

6/3/2001
6/6/2001
6/6/2001

ARTIFICIAL NEST "O"

5/28/2001
6/6/2001

5/28/2001
6/6/2001

5/28/2001
6/6/2001

ARTIFICIAL NEST "S"

6/10/2001
6/15/2001

6/11/2001
6/16/2001

6/12/2001
6/17/2001

2004 Barn Swallow Feeding Study

This was only a very preliminary look at equipment and methodology to compare barn swallow feeding visits to weather. In previous years, I had kept daily weather records, but realtime weather records superimposed on the swallow nest video would be much more informative. The very low tech weather cam consisted of the spinning cup mechanism from a broken anemometer, a large funnel to concentrate rain and drip on a movable flap, and a dial thermometer. This provided an accurate temperature reading and an estimate of wind speed and rain fall. The visual anemometer was quite sensitive and easy to see in the video. The rainfall indicator could be improved as far as visibility, especially in infrared lighting when used for bat video.

Barn swallows, being aerial insectivores, have difficulty catching enough insects to feed their young during bad weather. The effect of prolonged severe weather is demonstrated by nesting failures. But, frequent brief bouts of cold wet weather may also have an effect on nestling growth and fledging success. Monitoring the number of feeding visits at up to three same age nests as well as current weather conditions can be done by using a quad processor and vcr. I review the tapes in fast forward, sometimes watching only one nest at a time, since some feeding visits are of such short duration that they may be missed if trying to monitor all three quadrants of the screen simultaneously. Another option is to review the tape in realtime and watch all 3 nests at once, pausing the tape whenever necessary to enter data. Old fashioned hand counters are useful for tallying feeding visits without taking your eyes off the screen. Blood cell counters allow entering separate totals for each nest.

The weather cam

closeup of the weather cam

quad view - feeding visit at lower left.

quad cam - feeding visit at upper right.

Attracting barn swallows with artificial nest cups	2012 barn owl nesting
2012 barn swallow nesting	2011 barn owl nesting
2012 barn swallow prey cam	2011 barn owl prey cam
A new barn swallow shelter for 2013	2010 barn owl nesting
2001 barn swallow nest cam	2006 barn owl polygamous nesting
Attracting barn swallows	2003 barn owl nesting
The barn swallow	2003 barn owl prey study
Barn swallow basics	The attic barn owl nest
Transplanting a barn swallow nest	Living with barn owls
2001 testing of artificial nest cups	Barn owl electrocution
Using artificial nest cups	The barn owl nest box
Barn swallow shelters	2005 Northern flicker nest cam
2010 American kestrel nest cam	2002 Northern flicker nest cam
2012 Kestrel nesting	2001 Northern flicker nest cam
2002 Kestrel nest cam	Flicker and starling nest box competition
2001 Kestrel nest cam	Yellow shafted flicker
The Kestrel tower	Northern flicker nest box
The American Kestrel	Flicker box sliding hole cover
More on kestrels	A flicker drum
2010 Update	Entire site index (outdated)
Starling traps	Using blinds in the home habitat

Species of interest in our yard - photos and articles
barn owl American kestrel purple martin barn swallow Eastern bluebird
tufted titmouse Eastern phoebe yellow shafted flicker tree swallow chimney swift

house wren big brown bat Carolina wren brown thrasher catbird

Eastern wood-pewee cedar waxwing Northern mockingbird Turkey vulture

Species of interest in our yard - photos and articles
barn owl	American kestrel	purple martin	barn swallow	Eastern bluebird
tufted titmouse	Eastern phoebe	yellow shafted flicker	tree swallow	chimney swift
house wren	big brown bat	Carolina wren	brown thrasher	catbird
Eastern wood-pewee		cedar waxwing	Northern mockingbird	Turkey vulture