A farmer on north Whidbey Island called to say the entire flock of swallows
that usually nest on his barn and outbuildings abandoned the colony in the
space of 2 days. He reported finding eggs in many of the nests though he
thought them to be thinner than a normal egg. Sometimes (at least here on
Whidbey) Cliff Swallows use an inferior mud that causes the nests to break
apart. This isn't the case here. What would cause all of them to pull out
after going so far as to lay eggs? He's very concerned there may be some
pollutant or other that caused this and has saved some of the eggs. Is it
likely the prey base ie. flying insects just couldn't support a colony this
year? Answers? Theories? Guesses?
Steve Ellis
WIWA Ssp. CO
(Whidbey Island Washington, subspecies Coupeville)