Bank Swallows and Orchard Orioles breeding by the river/Nashua

[Christine Sheridan]

Bank Swallows are still raising young in a heap of dirt piled up behind the business and construction area off Bridge St.  There are 18 holes (a 19th looks collapsed.)  So far their dirt pile has escaped the earth moving going on.

There don't appear to be as many holes as usual in the bluff at the mouth of the Nashua River--maybe the birds decided the loose dirt would be better for burrowing...

There appear to be at least two Orchard Oriole families in the same area, one on the south side of the Nashua, with a mature male.  This pair seems to have nested in the same tree as in the  past couple of years.

A female and her second-year male mate are feeding fledglings on the south side of the Nashua.

I've frequently seen the adult male and his mate make forays across the river--seems that  they are enjoying visits to feeders for jelly! 

Chris Sheridan

Nashua