I have never seen Rough-wings in artificial nest
cavities. Along the lower Columbia they use exposed
clay banks from road cuts, quarries or slides as well
as river cut banks.

Violet-greens are very regular users of nestboxes I've
set up, but I've seen use holes in siding on buildings,
build storm drains and street light covers.

Violet-greens also nest in natural rock cavities along
the steep rock faces on Saddle Mt (Coast Range). They also
use cavities in rimrock and canyon faces in eastern Oregon
and Washington.

ian paulsen wrote:
>
> HI:
> How often do people notice N. Rough-winged Swallows up here nesting in
> natural cavities vs. man-made structures? What about Violet-green
> Swallows??
>
> Ian Paulsen
> Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
> ipaulsen at krl.org
> A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
> "Rallidae all the way"
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2002 11:47:12 -0700 (PDT)
> From: ian paulsen <ipaulsen at krl.org>
> To: BIRDCHAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
> Subject: Northern Rough-winged Swallows (again)
>
> HI ALL:
> It is funny that just about everyone that e-mailed me says they nest
> PRIMARILY in man-made structures! Here on Bainbridge Island, WA they nest
> in sandy banks/cliffs along the Puget Sound. I've yet to see them in
> man-made structures. Nesting in man-made structures has been recorded
> elsewhere in WA State, the believe it is still uncommon. Most still nest
> in banks/cliffs. The funny thing is that Violet-green Swallows nest
> PRIMARILY in man-made structures up here (contra to what most life history
> books say!). The only time I've seen a Violet-green Swallow nesting in a
> natural cavity on the island was in a cliff burrow (probably an old
> Rough-winged Swallow nest!).
> sincerely
>
> Ian Paulsen
> Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
> ipaulsen at krl.org
> A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
> "Rallidae all the way"

--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html