Casper, Wyoming, is home to a colony of cliff swallows that have made the Blackmore Marketplace their residence. The birds build their nests by gathering mud, forming it into balls in their crops, and regurgitating it to create their homes.

Benefits of Cliff Swallows

According to Zach Hutchinson, Community Science Coordinator for Audubon Rockies, cliff swallows are beneficial to the community as they eat tens of thousands of bugs per week. “The great thing about swallows is they eat so many bugs,” Hutchinson said. “I mean, you’re talking tens-of-thousands of bugs by an individual every week, so why wouldn’t you want them?”

The cliff swallows’ nesting habits are also unique, as they build little huts and nest in colonies. In contrast, barn swallows build platforms and nest in pairs. The Blackmore Marketplace provides an ideal location for the cliff swallows, with its wall-to-roof ratio making it an attractive spot for the birds.

It’s worth noting that destroying bird nests is not allowed, as it is illegal to knock them down during the nesting season. To control the population, it’s necessary to chase them off early or knock the nests down after their babies have grown and fledged.

Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.