Watched a lone Tree Swallow playing a sort of game of catch with itself this evening at Valley Falls Park in Vernon. It would carry a white feather in its bill up while flying, then release it. The bird would swoop down to catch the feather as it floated down. It did this multiple times over a period of almost 10 minutes. It eventually flew off with the feather. I've never seen a swallow do this kind of behavior before. It was obviously done as a form of entertainment for itself, since it was a conscious effort to continue the game.
Jeff FenglerVernon CT

More on Tree Swallows - they use white feathers to line (and decorate) their nests - this year, mine are using turkey breast feathers instead!  
Angela Dimmitt
New Milford

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeffrey Fengler via CTBirds ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
To: CTBIRDS ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Sent: Wed, Jun 8, 2022 9:40 pm
Subject: [CT Birds] Tree Swallow: interesting behavior.

Watched a lone Tree Swallow playing a sort of game of catch with itself this evening at Valley Falls Park in Vernon. It would carry a white feather in its bill up while flying, then release it. The bird would swoop down to catch the feather as it floated down. It did this multiple times over a period of almost 10 minutes. It eventually flew off with the feather. I've never seen a swallow do this kind of behavior before. It was obviously done as a form of entertainment for itself, since it was a conscious effort to continue the game.
Jeff FenglerVernon CT

CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/
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I've checked bluebird boxes for decades and have seen that behavior before.

Tree swallows prefer the white feathers to line their nest, but they will use whatever is convenient.  Just as Angela observed, one year a turkey got killed by the field where the nest boxes were located and the breast could be found throughout the field.  That year, every tree swallow nest was lined with turkey feathers.

Thanks,
JT

John Triana
Prospect

-----Original Message-----
From: Angela Dimmitt via CTBirds ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Sent: Wednesday, June 8, 2022 10:36 PM
To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Subject: [CT Birds] Re: Tree Swallow: interesting behavior.

More on Tree Swallows - they use white feathers to line (and decorate) their nests - this year, mine are using turkey breast feathers instead!  Angela Dimmitt New Milford

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeffrey Fengler via CTBirds ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
To: CTBIRDS ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Sent: Wed, Jun 8, 2022 9:40 pm
Subject: [CT Birds] Tree Swallow: interesting behavior.

Watched a lone Tree Swallow playing a sort of game of catch with itself this evening at Valley Falls Park in Vernon. It would carry a white feather in its bill up while flying, then release it. The bird would swoop down to catch the feather as it floated down. It did this multiple times over a period of almost 10 minutes. It eventually flew off with the feather. I've never seen a swallow do this kind of behavior before. It was obviously done as a form of entertainment for itself, since it was a conscious effort to continue the game.
Jeff FenglerVernon CT

CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/
CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/

CTBirds, a service of Connecticut Ornithological Association - Bringing birders together statewide. Please support COA: https://www.ctbirding.org/join-us/
CTBirds is for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For list rules and subscription information visit: https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/