Our bird class in the Matanuska Valley (north of Anchorage), taught by John
Wenger, has witnessed tree swallows eating sweet gale berries in early May. It
was quite a surprise.


>An interesting note: "It is a curious fact that along the Atlantic coast =
>the tree swallow consumes many of the (Myrica) berries, though =
>practically all the rest of its food consists of insects." They say =
>that 25 to 50% of the plant food of the swallow can be Myrica berries.
>Jon. Anderson

Chris Maack
Bird Treatment & Learning Center
Anchorage, AK
73201.3124 at compuserve.com