Hey, there! Log in / Register

Boston housing battle really heating up

Tree swallows fight for prime space at Millennium Park

Mary Ellen watched tree swallows duke it out for a prime nesting box at Millennium Park in West Roxbury.

Swallow battle over nesting box
Swallow battle over nesting box
Neighborhoods: 


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Comments

Swallows are ruthless.

up
Voting closed 0

My father, who was President of his regional Audubon Society, and much beloved by the birds - chickadees would eat out of his hand - always put up birdhouses in pairs, one for the bluebirds and one for the swallows. Swallows, he explained, were very aggressive, and would always beat out the bluebirds for a single box; but they were also territorial, and would not let a second swalllow couple nest nearby, while they would tolerate the bluebirds.

up
Voting closed 0

Interesting! Thanks for posting this.

up
Voting closed 0

Well I can see why this is a hot commodity

Single Family Home on single lot (or pole)... check
West Roxbury... check
Near OK School... check
Close to 95/128... check
Still within city limits... check
Near a big park.. check

I bet this is a picture of a bidding war.

up
Voting closed 0

but the sleazebag broker says you can add dormers, even though it requires a variance and will take 2 years to permit. The yellow bellied sapsucker next door will oppose at the ZBA and she is the mother in law of a guy at ONS, so you had better make a substantial contribution to Audubon. Doesn't that district also require 1.0 perches per residential unit. There aren't any shown in the photo. That's another violation.

up
Voting closed 1

You win!

up
Voting closed 0

Such a deal.

Every bird wants this one. Not a few humans, too.

up
Voting closed 0

When you've put your entire nest egg into one of these, you gotta defend it from squatters. You'd hate to have it poached.

up
Voting closed 0