Tree Swallow Babies Are Growing
By CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
Nashville, Tennessee
June 9, 2021 10:50am CST
Swallow babies turned seven days old yesterday in my backyard bluebird house. A few have asked for updates.
The parents are both busy feeding the babies. They seem ok with me checking on them, as long as I am quick. Managed to snap this photo yesterday.
You can see one in the very back of the photo, a little blurred, as I was in a hurry. Their wing span will be wide, cool to see their development every day. All five seem to be doing fine.
Gradually, between about day five and day ten, their eyes open from tiny slits to fully wide. Their contour and flight feathers are starting to emerge.
Photo is mine.
20 people like this
21 responses
@FourWalls (68084)
• United States
9 Jun 21
Hey, their heads have grown to fit their eyes! 
Such a great opportunity to watch them grow! Thanks for sharing it with us!!!!
Such a great opportunity to watch them grow! Thanks for sharing it with us!!!!2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jun 21
I really am rooting for all five to make it! Thanks for updating us. It's nice to see their growth and progress. How many years do tree swallows live, and how many years can the female reproduce? I'm curious that if momma bird hatches 3-5 babies every year, and if they were all to live to adulthood, how many kids she'll have flying around in this world.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Jun 21
@CarolDM Well, I guess that's why they lay 5 eggs, in the hopes that 2-3 of them survive. Nature is beautiful, but it can also be cruel.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
10 Jun 21
@moffittjc You got that right. Nature can be cruel. Hoping for the best.
1 person likes this
. They do look different - in such short time - oh the babies are growing up! To think what they will look in another week 
!
I look forward to the next update 
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
10 Jun 21
Oh my gosh, they have changed! And in a week, they will look totally different with their eyes open
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
10 Jun 21
@CarolDM Watching them mature from the day they hatched, what a special treat!
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
10 Jun 21
every year you get a new nest of babies. I bet they all fly off and set their bird GPSs to your house (home)! great picture!!!!!
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
10 Jun 21
@CarolDM truly i hope bluebirds return as well!
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (89873)
• Arvada, Colorado
10 Jun 21
Lovely little fellows and gals
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (106397)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Jun 21
They no longer look like baby mice Great picture
Great picture1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178877)
• United States
10 Jun 21
Thanks for being the bird supervisor for MyLot. We love getting the updates and the pictures.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79892)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Jun 21
Great shot, They are so adorable,
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14760)
• San Jose, California
9 Jun 21
Look at those adorable pinfeather babies!
1 person likes this
@Scrapper88 (5983)
• United States
9 Jun 21
I would be interested in knowing about when they learn how to fly.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
9 Jun 21
I have learned this over the years by watching the different species. Contrary to what you might expect, songbirds don’t “learn” to fly, and their parents don’t “teach” them. Young birds of flying species have inborn abilities to fly which develop gradually as the birds’ bodies mature. When they reach the point where they are physically ready for flight they will fly. It is like a miracle when you see them actually fly out of the bird house.
