At 06:02 PM 30/08/1997 +1000, Trevor wrote:
>Speaking of swallow nests reminded me of the time the late John Hobbs
>showed me a swallow's nest in a hollow base of a River Red Gum. One could
>stand in the hollow and look up and it was about 2 foot above head height.
>He pointed out this was an uncommon site and it certainly was from where I
>had seen them. Every one I had ever seen was around a building usually on
>a verandah. What other places have others seen them in? Was the arrival
>of houses with eaves the best thing a swallow could ever see?
>
> I have seen them underneath House-boats in Renmark.
As kids we used to dive under the pontoons on the House-boat & pop up
underneath the House-boat. This was considered a real achievement because
you risked drowning and when you popped up under the boat and you had a
chance of smashing you head on the sub-structure. Once under there you
could see the swallows nest's under the boat. ( The chicken's way was to go
under the House-boat from the back which means you avoided going under the
pontoons ! )
When you went cruising up river you were certain to spot swallows for
you
were taking them with you. Often the House-boats sat idle and it was an
ideal place to rear their young. When cruising up river there was always
swallows circling the House-boat as you went along.
> I have also seen young bats in old discarded swallow's nest's up on the
sandstone river cliffs north of Renmark.
>Peter.
>
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