Tree Swallows

I have a mental spring checklist and this morning I decided to check an old unused electrical box where in recent years I have found Tree Swallows nesting.  And at the first look at the electrical box I saw no swallows, however about 5 minutes later when passing by again I saw that there was a Swallow peering out of the hole in the electrical box.  Great,! the Swallow have nested there again for this year.  For some reason we no longer have Tree Swallows nesting in our swallow house and we miss them.  We saw this swallow species circling around our bird house earlier this spring but none decided to nest there.  We have had nesting swallows faithfully for many years until the last 3 or 4 years.  We are not sure why not, but we do wish they would return. I shall continue to moniter this nest site until the end of June when the new babies will be leaving their nest at about that time!

the abandonded unused electrical box adjacent to a newly plowed field.

 Tree Swallow peering out from its chosen nest site in an old, unused electrical box

 The Tree Swallow appears to be quite contented in its chosen location for nesting!

Next on my spring checklist is to locate more swallows.  perhaps Cliff Swallows or Barn Swallows.
I am also watching for Painted Turtles and Snapping Turtles!