Ray asked about wood shavings for his nest box.

Re the cedar or pine shavings as nest box liner, some
studies have shown that these woods give off phenols
which stress the liver and immune systems of small
mammals. Don't think any studies have been done on
birds (only mice). I'm thinking of Red-cockaded
Woodpeckers who will only nest in pines with rotten
heartwood and who benefit from all the pitch that
oozes down the tree. Must be phenols galore around
their nests.

So I guess this doesn't help you much, does it?

Chris Maack
Anchorage, AK
CMaack at compuserve.com