Swallows create problems for Lake Calabasas homeowner





By Michael Picarella
pic@theacorn.com

Swallows have found their way to Lake Calabasas and are becoming pests, according to Calabasas Park Homeowners’ Association President Helene Regen. Lake Calabasas is a man-made lake within the CPHA area, just off Park Sorrento in Calabasas.


Swallows, not common here, have built nests in the eves of at least one house near the shoreline. Wild birds and their nests can’t be disturbed because California law protects them.


"(The swallows) somehow have left San Juan Capistrano and—between the seagulls and the swallows—they’ve come to Lake Calabasas," Regen said. "We were on a boat (recently) and we passed a house near Park Contessa—they have big windows, and in the eves, hundreds of birds were trying to get to nests. They’re building mud nests."


Swallows are a protected species, according to Steve Edinger, a California Department of Fish and Game spokesman.


"There’s also a law that says an active nest can’t be disturbed," Edinger said. An active nest contains eggs or baby birds. "But there are ways to prevent swallows from coming in the first place."


Edinger recommended inflatable or plastic great-horned owls as a deterrent.


"If you put those around the area, a lot of times the swallows won’t nest in that area because the owls are predators to them. I’ve also seen people use netting in the eves, and that works," he said.


There are other ways to discourage birds from nesting, Edinger said, and a bird specialist can be contacted to answer specific questions. He suggested calling Fish and Game’s South Coast regional office at (858) 467-4201.


Regen said a procedure involving oil can prevent birds from nesting in and around eves, but she couldn’t provide specific information because she wasn’t sure of the process.


Facts about Swallows


from Wild Birds Unlimited


1. Swallows prefer to be in open areas in the sun, near water, pastures, fields and golf courses.


2. The birds eat insects and sometimes berries (when insects are unavailable).


3. Swallows nest in the spring and summer.


4. Swallows make their nests from grass and weed stems and line the nests with feathers. They build near mud sources. Each nest consists of about 1,000 small mud pellets.


5. Each nest usually holds about three to seven eggs. The eggs are white and unmarked. Young usually hatch in 16 to 24 days.


6. In a single day, swallows fly to and from their nests thousands of times.



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *