At 10:35 PM 7/9/96 -0700, you wrote:
> The four baby barn swallows on our front porch are now about 3
>weeks old and just starting to exercise their wings but suddenly there are
>bugs everywhere in the hundreds.

Hi Jim!

Does sound like mites to me. But I'm not familiar with songbirds so I've
forwarded your questions to a rehabilitation group.

I would doubt the bugs are dangerous to humans. For the most part, there
aren't many diseases/parasites that are passed to humans from birds.

Please don't use any pesticides on them. Many of these products are
extremely toxic to birds and can kill the babies.

There are several rehab centers in Washington. Are you near Seattle? If
not, can you give me the name of another town near you? I can then refer
you to them for a quick answer to your questions.

Peggi
Ben & Peggi Rodgers
Veneta, OR
prodgers at efn.org

"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer,
it sings because it has a song"