Tree Swallow (NY1)

Species: Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
Location: Ithaca, NY
Status: Unsuccessful

	May 24 - The sixth and final egg of the clutch was laid on May 21. Usually females begin incubating when the penultimate (second to last) egg is laid. This nest was found to be abandoned a few days later. Please visit New York 2000 Archive 2 for another nest attempt by Tree Swallows.
	May 20 - The smooth, non-glossy eggs appear pure white when laid but they are actually pale pink in color until about day four of incubation, at which time they become pure white.
	May 19 - A fourth egg was laid today. It is not uncommon for females to arrest egg laying between one and seven days, particularly in wet, cold weather, such as we have experienced in New York recently.
	May 18 - The third egg was laid around 7am this morning. The beginning of a nicely formed, feather-lined nest cup is visible.
	May 17 - A second egg has been laid. The male will begin collecting feathers from other species including Canada Goose, domestic fowl, and gulls to deliver to the female in the box. The female will then arrange the feathers in the nest so that the quills lie in the grass, underneath the nest cup and the distal ends curl up and over the eggs.
	May 16 - One of the adults seen exiting the nest box. The oval eggs normally measure 18.7 x 13.2 mm (roughly the size of a penny).
	May 12 - Among Tree Swallows, the male normally chooses the nest site, but the female does almost all the nest building, except the delivery of feathers which is usually done by the male.