Things are hopping out on the prairies. Black Hills Audubon volunteers are monitoring nest boxes on Violet, Glacial Heritage, and Deschutes Prairies. We have had successful Western Bluebird nests already but the main thrust right now is with the swallows. Both Tree and Violet-green Swallows are on eggs or actively feeding youngsters. We also have a few House Wren nests being tended to. As I write this, there is a minor heat spell headed our way, but it looks like the temperatures will stay under 90 degrees—good for swallows which don’t do well when the temperature gets higher than that.
The above photo was taken by Janet DeLapp out at Glacial Heritage. A Violet-green Swallow is tending to her five eggs inside one of our nest boxes.
