I have noticed a decline in cliff and barn swallows. In my neighborhood, I
can't really go around shooting house sparrows like I wish I could, but ever
since they started building our neighborhood a long time ago, our cliff
swallows found it and started building and raising you successfully, but
then the house sparrows took over EVERY nest and now we have not ONE cliffy
here. I usually wait until August when the house sparrows roost in my plum
tree and I shoot them from there. Barn swallows don't have a problem with
house sparrows but more with humans. They nest much closer (lower to the
ground and over doors etc.) than cliffies will and that causes problems.
People cry and complain over their droppings and there goes their nest. It
seems that violet-green and tree swallows that don't nest in nest boxes
which are monitered, don't get to use their cavity for long. I'm not sure
how much if any nest material they will remove once it's been over filled
through years of use. That means they have to move and then things get
overcrowded and they have to deal with S&S. But in my opinion, it's barnies
and cliffies that seem the worst right now. Hopefully it won't be long until
they are back up to normal!! :)

Blake Iverson
Arlington, WA
coopershwk at hotmail.com

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