Subject: [Tweeters] effects of heavy rain on nesting swallows
Date: Jun 18 11:47:36 2012
From: Barry Ulman - ubarry at qwest.net


I have been noting a lack of swallows too, and so have a couple friends of mine. I have had two nest boxes for Violet-green Swallows starting nine years ago, and every year at least one of the boxes has hosted a successful brood of Violet-greens. Until this year. They have not even come around prospecting for a home. Two other friends who have swallow nest boxes have reported the same thing; no nesting families for the first time in ten years or so. Something is going on; I'm thinking there's more to it than the weather.

Barry Ulman
Bellingham, WA.
ubarry at qwest.net


On Jun 18, 2012, at 10:18 AM, A.E. McLaughlin wrote:

> Hello, I was wondering about the lack of swallows at our place last year, and it occurred to me that in May-June 2010, we experienced steady, daily, torrential rain for about a month. We live in the foothills of Mt. Spokane at about 2500 feet, and that spring two years ago, we had record-breaking amounts of rain. Does heavy rain, for days on end, affect nesting success? I wondered because during the rains of the past few days, I only saw hummingbirds out and about. We seem to have a flock of violet green swallows that return every year, but they were absent last year, and the black flies were awful. Thank you. _______________________________________________
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