Look Around

[paulnj]

Yes tree swallows are one of the first to migrate back(soon as insects appear) and I highly doubt they will be evicted unless a starling desides to TRY to fit in the box(which are made too small for them on purpose )

What gear were you using, because with a tripod and around 500mm you can fill the frame(I have years ago) with patience and keeping motionless

[Chunk]

I was using my Panasonic FZ20. It has a 35mm equivalent focal length of about 430 mm (76mm actual I think) at the long end of its 12x zoom. I had it on my cheap Slik tripod so I am glad that the camera has image stabilization. I started quite a ways away, taking several shots and then halving the distance by walking slowly and quietly before stopping and taking more shots. Then repeating the process. They usually watched me closely while I was moving and one occasionally left to chase other birds off. I sure didn't expect to be allowed as close as I was. I'll be trying this sort of thing with other birds.

I was thinking that the eviction will come at the hands of misguided humans who put up these Bluebird Houses. You see instructions for building the houses and how to clean them out for the arrival of the bluebirds. Silly people.

[paulnj]

your technique was correct !

In my area people put 2 boxes back to back on 1 post. I have seen blue birds in one and swallows in the other.