> 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?

Just to add a little to this, studies have been done which confirm this in
rabbits as well. However, I believe the only reason for a problem is if
the animal ingests the wood in some way (something which mice, rats, and
rabbits all have a tendency to do...). In hte case of woodpeckers, I don't
know what level of ingestion they would have or if it would even hurt them,
but it is something worth checking into...

Steve Mansfield steve at nwnet.net
NorthWestNet Network Engineer 425-649-7467