The Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area (CVWMA) hosts a plethora of gorgeous walking trails for the public. If you have walked Marsh Trail, you may have seen a large building on the East side of Corn Creek Marsh. This building is called the “Swallow Hotel” and was created in response to the removal of the old Interpretive Center. The Center provided not only public education but also nesting habitat for the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), a Species at Risk. Loss of nesting habitat is one of the main threats to Species at Risk. Barn Swallows are no exception. When the Center had to be removed, the Swallow Hotel was created for Barn Swallows to replace their lost habitat. We hoped that mated pairs of Barn Swallows would utilize any of the 40 artificial nesting cups within the Hotel to build nests and raise their young.

 

Between May and August the Swallow Hotel is closed to the public to limit disturbance to nesting pairs; concurrently, breeding attempts are monitored by CVWMA biologists. I am thrilled to say this year was a success, with many of our pairs having two broods. During the first survey at the beginning of May, 12 nests were already being constructed. By the beginning of June, 7 of those nests had eggs, and two already had chicks. Subsequently, some pairs were already onto their second brood within the first week of July.

 

Surveys are completed using a ladder, binoculars, data sheets, and a mirror attached to the end of an extendable pole. I would arrive at the hotel and observe bird activity from a distance, noting how many adults, juveniles, and other species I saw; binoculars came in handy here! Next, I would approach the nest cups and use a mirror to see inside the nest so I could record the nest stage. I would use a ladder if the artificial cups were too high from the ground to look at the nest contents! First and foremost, when checking out the contents of the nest cups, I recorded if any noticeable nest construction was happening. In addition, the presence and number of eggs, hatchlings, and/or fledglings, along with the age of the young, would be recorded. Typically, Barn Swallow pairs lay between three to five eggs, with the second brood being smaller.

 

Visitors are welcome to look at the exterior architecture of the Swallow Hotel during the breeding season (May-August). During the rest of the year (September-April), visitors can peek inside to get a good look at the accommodations! So, if you are ever around Corn Creek Marsh, I encourage you to come and get a glimpse of the Swallow Hotel. Our previous guests give it a 5-star rating and usually enjoy their stay so much that they come back the next year!