Erratic weather is causing stress for wildlife of all kinds in Alaska, with record-breaking temperatures this summer. That’s true for birds like the tufted puffin, whose food source is disappearing due to warming oceans.
Drier, hotter weather throughout Southeast Alaska this year has, however, brought about a higher than average insect count —and that’s a good thing if you’re a tree swallow. More insects equals more protein, and tree swallows need protein to produce eggs.
This year, the tree swallow nest boxes on Southeast Alaska Land Trust conservation properties in Juneau produced a whopping 139 fledglings—up from 78 in 2018.
Brenda Wright, of the Juneau Audubon Society and head of the tree swallow nest box study, was thrilled, “These sites are obviously attractive to insect-eating birds, and also productive!”
The Juneau Audubon Society intends to place even more nest boxes in these locations next year.
Photo courtesy of J. Millsaps.
*This article was originally published in the 2019 Fall Newsletter. To read the entire newsletter, please go to this link.