Birders, This sad talk of declining swallows moves me to report
that Benton County BANK SWALLOWS seem to be of normal or higher
numbers. On July 22 over 1,000 were in a flock along the Columbia
River west of Plymouth in southern Benton County.
They will stay in big flocks for 3 or 4 weeks & then head south.
More scientifically, I had a record high number of Bank Swallows
on my Pendleton Oregon Breeding Bird Survey which I've done for 21 years.
Actually I've broken the record each of the last 5 years with numbers
of 52, 62, 77, 81, & 92 this year. Back in 1978 to 1982 they were rare
with numbers of 0, 6, 3, 0, 1. The average number is now 32.3.

I'm more worried about LAZULI BUNTINGS which were at a record low
number of 5 verses 39 in 1994! I suspect Cowbirds to be the problem.
Habitat is the same here.
Still hot here.
Good Birding,
Craig

Craig Corder & Judy Stevens
Hermiston, Oregon, USA
Umatilla County in north/central/eastern Oregon
ccorder at eoni.com