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Family Tree Swallow House Building Project for Maryland
From Birdhouse Building to Conservation Learning
From Birdhouse Building to Conservation Learning
Hello Tweet Friends! My name is Amelle, and my team created this project as part of our Girl Scout Bronze Award. I built a birdhouse for Tree Swallows to give them a safe place to raise their families—and I want to help you build one too!
These graceful and vibrant feathered flyers are cute and acrobatic, but they're losing their natural nesting sites due to trees near the water being cut down. That's where Swallow Suite comes in—my custom-designed birdhouse provides everything these remarkable birds need with the safety of cavities that they love . I've spent months researching and refining this design to create the ultimate Tree Swallow home that really works.
Through this project, I've learned that meaningful conservation can happen right in our own backyards, one small action at a time. My mission is simple: show everyone how easy and rewarding it is to help Tree Swallows thrive, whether you're 8 or 80. Ready to give a Tree Swallow family their forever home?
Perfect Family Project: Build Swallow Suite Together
Perfect Family Project: Build Swallow Suite Together
Amelle's Swallow Suite design is perfect for families with kids! This hands-on woodworking project teaches children about bird biology, habitat needs, and conservation while creating real homes for Maryland's Tree Swallows. Great for scout badge projects, homeschool STEM activities, and family bonding time.
What kids learn: Bird identification, aerial insectivore behavior, migration patterns, measuring and cutting skills, habitat requirements, and the satisfaction of helping wildlife in their own backyard.
Why the Tree Swallow?
Why the Tree Swallow?
I know that many trees are being cut down in my area to make room for homes, businesses and bigger roads. When I first researched the Tree Swallow, I felt like a bird of such color might need some help with their home. I’m sad that I have never seen one before, and I live close to water. We have lots of bird feeders in our yard, but have not had a tree swallow experience yet. I chose the Tree Swallow because I love the vibrant colors, it looks really cute, I love birds and want to help them. Tree Swallows eat tons of bugs and I do not care for bugs. My mom inspired me to choose the Tree Swallow because she likes the color blue and she loves birds too. Tree Swallows like to nest in tree cavities and they use white feathers in their nests. Their eggs are white and I think they use the feathers to camouflage their babies before they hatch. Tree Swallows have V-shaped wings that they use for gliding and flapping. Also, their tail is a V-shape too and it helps them to keep their balance. They are excellent flyers! The Anita Leight Estuary Center would be a good place to see Tree Swallows in the wild. If you want to see a Tree Swallow, you should look near water. If you want to help your feathered community, they would love it if you left out white feathers for their nests.
About Tree Swallows
About Tree Swallows
Tree Swallows are graceful aerial acrobats with stunning iridescent blue-green backs and pure white undersides. They visit Maryland from spring through early fall, nesting in cavities and nest boxes like mine. These amazing birds have streamlined bodies perfect for catching flying insects, and they're known for their spectacular aerial courtship displays. In spring, Tree Swallows raise their babies—usually 4 to 7 chicks at a time—and both parents work tirelessly to catch thousands of flying insects each day to feed them. They eat mosquitoes, flies, flying ants, and other aerial insects, making them natural pest controllers! Tree Swallows are important for controlling insect populations, but they're losing safe nesting spaces. That's why I built Swallow Suite—to give them a safe, protected home and teach others how to help too.
Educational Opportunities for Kids:
Practice bird identification skills with field marks (iridescent back, white belly)
Learn about migratory bird behavior and seasonal patterns
Understand aerial insectivore lifestyle and hunting techniques
Track migration timing and seasonal behavior changes
Connect local birds to broader conservation concepts
Study predator-prey relationships in aerial ecosystems
All About Tree Swallows
All About Tree Swallows
What is a Tree Swallow?
Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) are medium-sized songbirds that visit Maryland seasonally. They are part of the swallow family and are known for their incredible flying abilities and beautiful aerial displays.
What They Look Like
Size: 5-6 inches long (about the size of a sparrow!)
Weight: Less than 1 ounce (lighter than a AA battery!)
Colors: Iridescent blue-green back that shimmers in sunlight, pure white underparts
Males vs. Females: Males are more iridescent; females may be duller
Flight: Streamlined body with long, pointed wings perfect for aerial acrobatics
Maryland Habitat Needs
Prefer open areas near water (insects emerge from water sources)
Migrate to Maryland in March-April, leave by September
Need cavities for nesting (natural holes or nest boxes)
Love fields, meadows, and areas with flying insects
Raising Young
Breeding season in Maryland: April through July
Broods per year: Usually 1, sometimes 2
Eggs: 4-7 white eggs
Incubation: 13-16 days
Fledging: 18-22 days after hatching
Parental care: Both parents catch insects to feed chicks
What They Eat
Tree Swallows are exclusively aerial insectivores, meaning they catch all their food while flying! They eat mosquitoes, flies, flying ants, midges, mayflies, and other flying insects. A single Tree Swallow can eat up to 2,000 flying insects per day!
Amazing Tree Swallow Science for Kids:
Aerial Acrobats: They can fly at speeds up to 40 mph and perform incredible aerial stunts!
Insect Vacuum Cleaners: Each bird eats 2,000+ flying insects daily - natural pest control!
Migration Masters: Travel thousands of miles to Central America each winter
Early Arrivals: Males arrive first in spring to claim the best nest boxes
Courtship Displays: Perform spectacular aerial dances to attract mates
Social Gatherings: Form huge flocks before migration - sometimes thousands of birds!
Color-Changing Feathers: Iridescent feathers look different in various light
Why They Matter
Why They Matter
Natural Pest Control: Tree Swallows eat enormous quantities of flying insects that can be pests to humans and agriculture. They help control mosquito, fly, and gnat populations naturally.
Ecosystem Health Indicators: Because they depend on clean water sources (where insects breed), healthy Tree Swallow populations indicate healthy wetland and aquatic ecosystems.
Educational Value: Their spectacular flying abilities and willingness to use nest boxes make them perfect for teaching kids about bird behavior and conservation.
Agricultural Benefits: By eating agricultural pests, they help farmers reduce the need for pesticides.
Conservation Inspiration: Their success in using human-provided nest boxes shows how simple actions can make a real difference for wildlife
Additional references
Additional references
Learn More:
Cornell Lab All About Birds: Tree Swallow - Perfect for kids learning bird identification
American Bird Conservancy - Advanced conservation info for older kids
NestWatch - Citizen science project specifically for monitoring nesting birds
Local Audubon Maryland-DC - Family bird watching events and education programs
Purple Martin Conservation Association - Information about aerial insectivores
Maryland Ornithological Society - Local birding groups and events
How to Build a tree swallow Birdhouse
How to Build a tree swallow Birdhouse
Everything you need to build your own birdhouse!
Materials List
Materials List
Cedar Dog Ear Fence Picket (6ft tall, 5 1/2" wide, 5/8" thick)
1 1/2" Finishing Nails (or brad nails / nailer)
Wood Glue
Exterior hinges (Optional for access inside)
Tools Needed
Tools Needed
Saw
(Hand, Miter, or Circular)
Tape Measure
Pencil
Hammer
Hole saw or Jig saw (Not required but the job will be easier)
Family Building Tips:
Ages 6-8: Kids can help measure, mark entrance holes, sand rough edges, and apply wood glue
Ages 9-13: Can help with drilling pilot holes (with supervision), assembly, and painting/staining
Safety first: Adult supervision required for all power tools
Learning opportunity: Teach kids about entrance hole size importance for excluding competing species
Species-Specific Notes
Species-Specific Notes
Why These Dimensions Matter for Tree Swallows
Why These Dimensions Matter for Tree Swallows
1 -1/2" entrance hole: Perfect size for Tree Swallows while excluding larger competing birds like European Starlings
5" x 5" floor: Matches their natural cavity preferences and provides room for 4-7 chicks
6-8" entrance height: Provides protection from predators while allowing easy access
Ventilation holes: Critical for temperature control during hot summer days
Drainage: Essential for nest health during rainy periods
Predator guard: Helps protect from cats, raccoons, and snakes
Nesting Behavior
Nesting Behavior
Season: April through July in Maryland
Nest material: Grass, feathers (especially white feathers they collect in flight!)
Eggs: 4-7 white eggs
Incubation: 13-16 days
Location preference: Open areas, ideally near water, 5-15 feet high
Turn Your Swallow Suite into a Learning Lab
Turn Your Swallow Suite into a Learning Lab
Family Observation Activities:
Migration Tracking: Record arrival and departure dates each year
Aerial Behavior Study: Time feeding flights and count insects caught per minute
Nest Building Documentation: Photograph nest construction progress
Courtship Display Recording: Video spectacular aerial courtship flights
Citizen Science: Report nesting success to eBird, NestWatch, or local Audubon
Seasonal Comparison: Compare arrival dates with weather patterns across years
Territory Mapping: Map which nest boxes Tree Swallows choose in your area
Perfect for: Scout nature badges, homeschool biology units, family science projects, and teaching kids about wildlife observation ethics and migration timing.
Why this matters
Why this matters
I've always admired Tree Swallows’ vibrant colors and the speed that they can fly. When I learned that Tree Swallows habitat is endangered because of land development, I knew I wanted to help. These birds aren't just beautiful—they're important because they eat lots of insects. I built Swallow Suite because I wanted to help kids learn about birds, and I hope this inspires others to take care of the environment for our "tweet" feathered friends.
From Swallow Suite to Complete Conservation
From Swallow Suite to Complete Conservation
Building a Tree Swallow house is just the beginning of your family's conservation adventure:
1. Start Here: Build Amelle's Swallow Suite design
2. Add Habitat: Plant native Maryland plants that attract flying insects
3. Expand Impact: Build houses for other Maryland bird species
4. Track Success: Join citizen science projects to document your results
5. Teach Others: Share your experience with other families
Tree Swallows in Maryland: What Kids Should Know
Tree Swallows in Maryland: What Kids Should Know
Maryland-Specific Facts:
Seasonal visitors: Arrive in Maryland March-April, leave August-September
Migration route: Travel along the Atlantic Flyway through Maryland to Central America
Peak nesting season: April through July in Maryland
Maryland habitats: Found near Chesapeake Bay, rivers, ponds, and wetlands throughout the state
Weather adaptations: Can survive cold snaps by entering temporary torpor (slowing metabolism)
Conservation status: Stable in Maryland thanks to nest box programs
Great for teaching kids about: Migration patterns, seasonal bird behavior, the importance of stopover habitats, and how human conservation efforts can help wildlife.
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