In a message dated 8/6/99 11:38:43 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
eoc at u.washington.edu writes:

<< nest in the cavity formed where streetlight supports bolt onto telephone
> poles, also a favorite of W. Kingbirds in the dry interior of BC and
> WA.

> Has anyone else noticed this or is it a local phenomenon? >>

What you may be noticing is birds nesting in cavities they normally wouldn't
even consider. This may be caused by more and more starlings every year, but
no new cavities being created. Those damned skyrats have to nest somewhere,
all the "good" cavities are taken by more senior birds...so the more
opportunistic starlings are taking any cavity they can find. I have a pair of
cliff swallows nesting on the side of my garage, and they've had to chase off
the starlings on more than one occasion. Apparently even a cavity made of mud
is fair game to a starling.....
Michelle