For any of you who want a heavy involvement with the Tachycineta
swallow genus here is a good starting point.

http://golondrinas.cornell.edu/

Larry Schwitters
Issaquah


On Mar 27, 2010, at 12:02 PM, Ed Newbold wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Great comments about the decline of the House Sparrow (HOSP). I've
> talked to perplexed English folks who have no idea why their birds
> are gone, and as Rob Sandelin points out, any time any bird
> declines, you have to worry.
>
> But our VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS have been back for two days now and
> the local House Sparrows have been starting in on them, perching
> above the nest box with the intent to bully them, presumably out of
> jealousy as the HOSPs have not been interested in the boxes all
> spring until the swallows showed up.
>
> I've been out patrolling in front of our house and shooting HOSPs on
> sight with a SUPER-SOAKER and wishing at times I had something more
> effective: a HOSP can size up the danger of a Super-soaker in a
> nanosecond. Any power it may have stems only from the fact that
> they learn you are against them being in certain places.
>
> Every year it breaks my heart to see Violet-green couples
> investigating air-conditioning ducts and other worthless sites, so
> I'm urging everyone who hasn't already to BUILD or BUY and PLACE a
> Violet-green nestbox if you have a reasonably high spot under an
> overhanging eave.
>
> Purchase nest boxes from Wild Birds Unlimited stores, the Seattle
> Audubon Society, or my web page at
>
>
> http://ednewbold.com/art_store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13&products_id=251
>
> Anyone who participated in the 2009 YARDBIRDRACE who has a potential
> site can get one free, just email me and let you know you need it,
> Thanks again.
>
> Sine this post is technically an advertisement and is therefore
> ILLEGAL under Tweeters (tough-on bird-related entrepreneurs, no-way-
> to-advertise) guidelines, I'll donate half the money grossed (if
> any) to the American Bird Conservancy.
>
>
> For those who BUILD THEIR OWN box, a diamond shaped hole 2 1/2
> inches wide that maxes at 7/8 high is good enough for them to get
> in. The box shouldn't be too small, but otherwise, I suspect it's
> size doesn't matter since V-gs have always had to accept what they
> get.
>
>
> Thanks all,
>
> Ed Newbold www.ednewbold.com residential Beacon Hill, Seattle, WA
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Tweeters at u.washington.edu
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