These Cliff Swallow nests are empty after a successful summer breeding season. They are often colony nesting birds, and these are actually on the underside of the Washington Street bridge right here in Jamestown, New York. This is a good example of a species that utilizes the urban environment we have created. Peregrine Falcons are another bird that would have been found on open cliffs that now nests on the ledges of our skyscrapers. While they would be hunting pigeons, starlings and sparrows, the Cliff Swallows can be found feeding on insects in the Chadakoin River habitat below the bridge and throughout the city. It is yet another layer of life that depends on the health of our waterways!
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator