-----Original Message-----
>From: "Lawrence, Miriam" <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: May 2, 2006 8:35 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] tree swallow trapped in nest box
>
>> Has anyone else experienced finding a swallow that couldn't seem to know 
>> how to get out. It was in a Peterson bluebird box.
>
>Lee, 
>
>Tree swallows dying in boxes is apparently a common problem and there seem
>to be a number of theories about it.  One is that the inside of the box may
>be too smooth, which can make it difficult for the tree swallows to climb
>out (especially the fledglings). You can roughen them up if you think this
>might be the problem.
>
>Another possibility (or it could be a combination of the two) is that the
>swallow arrived on the nesting grounds so weak and exhausted from migration
>that it either couldn't get out of the box once it got in, or it was just
>too weak to survive and chose the box (a dark quiet place) to go to die.
>
>There are a number of posts on the topic here:
>http://www.bestofbbml.audubon-omaha.org/swallow5.htm
>
>Congrats on your bluebirds!  By the way, are you familiar with the
>Bluebird-L listserv? 
>http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/listserv.htm	
>
>
>Best,
>Miriam Lawrence
>Monkton Ridge