Concerning the starving swallows, I recall reading an article that 
demonstrated natural selection for certain morphologic characteristics in 
Swallows. My recollection is a cold rainy spell in either Nebraska or 
Kansas in the late 90's resulted in increased mortality in Swallows (do 
not recall sps.). The survivors had I believe longer outer wing feathers 
and longer beaks. Both characteristics would provide a competitive 
advantage when resources are scarce. Longer wing tips would make a more 
efficient and maneuverable flier and the longer beak would result in more 
surface area to catch scarce food sources. Perhaps someone who recalls the 
article can give more details and a reference.
   My observations are the really cold wet three days early last week 
resulted in complete stoppage of nest building and in this current weather 
the nests are not occupied as much as usual. Also, there are several 
fluffed up swallows perched around the house. It will be nip and tuck for 
them even when the weather warms up tomorrow.
   A note on the botulism in the shore birds comment. It would not be too 
surprising to see some deaths from botulism as it an anaerobic bacteria 
and the flooded conditions we have now can certainly trigger an outbreak. 
It would be expected in water birds and other species that forage in 
standing water. It is a dose dependent disease and different species have 
different suseptibility to the toxin (at least in mammals).

Scott Pendleton

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