I'd like to thank everyone for all the responses regarding the nests inside
a cave in northeastern Iowa.
The general concensus seemed to be that they were most likely Eastern Phoebe
nests, however Chimney Swifts, Barn Swallows, Cliff Swallows, and
Rough-winged Swallows were all suggested as possible suspects.
I'm am still perplexed by the location of the nests though. I did a little
research on all the above mentioned species and any references I found
regarding nesting in a cave referred to the cave entrance. In cave-ecology
caves can be divided into 3 distinct zones; the entrance zone, the twilight
zone, and the darkness zone. These nests were definately not at the cave
entrance, but were well within the twilight zone.
This could be something as simple as ornithologists not using
biospeleological terminology (i.e. referring to the twilight zone as the
entrance) or it could be because of the size of the cave entrance (and the
amount of light it let it) the birds went deeper into the cave than they
normally would. We may never know.
It will be some time before I return to this site, but when I do I will
bring a camera and photograph not only the nests but some of the general
area (e.g. the cave entrance). I will also take some measurements (e.g. how
far into the cave they are, etc.). Hopefully that will give those of you who
were interested in more information enough data to solve the mystery.
For those of you who contacted me directly asking for more detailed
information - feel free to occasionally "pester" me about getting back to
the site! ;-)
Thanks again for the responses to my query.
Joe
[email protected]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Dixon" <[email protected]>
To: "IA-BIRD" <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2011 3:06 PM
Subject: [ia-bird] Iowa birds nesting inside caves?
Hello, I am a member of the Iowa Grotto of the National Speleological
Society (www.caves.org/grotto/iowa). We are a non-profit organization
which has been dedicated to the exploration, preservation, and study of
caves in Iowa since 1949. One of my interests over the last few years has
been collecting biospeleological (cave life) data.
On Saturday, November 5th (2011) while examining a cave in Winneshiek
County my colleagues and I came across two bird nests inside the cave.
These nests were of course empty at this time but none of us had come
across something like. The nests were not at the entrance of the cave but
were located approximately 25 feet inside it and built on a ledge in a
joint (crevice) in the ceiling about 6 feet off the ground. The entrance
to this cave is quite large (by Iowa standards) approximately 5 feet tall
by 12 feet wide, but the location of the nests (on the ledge in the
ceiling joint) would provide them very, very little light (they would be
in what is called the twilight zone of the cave).
We left both nests intact and untouched so it was difficult to get a lot
of information from them (none of us had a camera on this trip either
unfortunately). I could peer just over the edge of one nest and saw broken
egg shell, but all I could determine is that they were white (or mostly
white). I was wondering if anyone had any idea what species of birds could
have built these two nests? Would these be from cave swallows? Or do other
species (e.g. cliff swallows?) occasionally build nests inside caves?
I appreciate any help or guidance you can offer to help me solve this
mystery! :)
Sincerely,
Joe Dixon
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Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members
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