March 12, 2026
Horned Grebe at the Celery Farm
My first ever here. And the spring arrivals are arriving! The grebe was No. 186 on my Celery Farm life…
Nature Done Wright
Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs
June 16, 2010
Tree Swallow Nesting Tubes
Ever wonder what all those white plastic tubes are doing on the Celery Farm's Lake Appert?
They are innovative nesting sites for Tree Swallows, who have taken to nesting over the water to reduce predation and avoid competing for places with house sparrows, who are notorious bullies.
Marsh Warden Emeritus Stiles Thomas, who invented these nesting pipes, says the pipes are 4
inches in diameter, 18 inches long, and capped on one end.
They tilt down slightly for
drainage, and are cut on an angle so that they have a slight overhang.
They are roughly three feet off the water.
At the Celery Farm, they are
mounted in conjunction with the wood duck boxes, with both mounted on 4 by 4s.
3 comments
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The nesting tubes are for open water — far less likely to get House Sparrows…
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Neat. Would the backyard birder have success if we tried a nesting tube? Or is it more likely that they would pick an area with a pond or open field?
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Amazing how birds will adapt to seemingly artificial conditions if they are tailored to their needs. The swallows especially enjoy these nesting pipes because they offer some PriVaCy.
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3 comments
NJMC
The nesting tubes are for open water — far less likely to get House Sparrows…
Diana
Neat. Would the backyard birder have success if we tried a nesting tube? Or is it more likely that they would pick an area with a pond or open field?
Tom Burr
Amazing how birds will adapt to seemingly artificial conditions if they are tailored to their needs. The swallows especially enjoy these nesting pipes because they offer some PriVaCy.