My first recorded encounter with Tree Swallows was August 2nd, 1969, but I didn't pay them special attention until a migrating flock descended on the bayberry bushes around Junius Ponds* on October 12th, 1976. It turns out this behavior is rather famous and was (temporarily?) "immortalized" on an interpretive sign along Assateague Island National Seashore's Life-of-the-Dunes trail. The text read, "Northern bayberry is an abundant interdune shrub that enriches the surrounding soil and helps form protective thickets for wildlife. Many species of birds, especially great flocks of migrating tree swallows, feed on the gray waxy berries. Early colonists made candles from the wax of the 'candleberry bush.' Berries are most visible in early fall." That sign was already deteriorating in 2013, and I hope they've replaced it, but we haven't been back to that trail to see. (Please comment if you know. Our last trip to Delmarva was back in 2016.)
*Junius Ponds is in Seneca County, NY. At the time, the bayberries were part of the Bayberry Environmental Education Center (originally Junius Ponds Nature Center) which is now closed. Since bayberries are a sun-loving shrub, they gradually lost out to natural succession as encroaching trees grew taller and overshadowed them.
All About Birds: Tree Swallows
iNaturalist: Northern Bayberry
Assateague Island National Seashore's Life-of-the-Dunes trail 2013 interpretive sign
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