Kurt Schwarz wrote:

> This morning while atlasing in Patapsco State Park, I encountered
> Rough-winged swallows apparently using abandoned semi-trailers for nesting
> sites.  The trailers had several holes on the underside, rougly three inches
> across.  Several birds were seen entering and exiting holes on the corner of
> two separate trailers.  When I went for a closer look, the swallows became
> quite agitated.  I saw no actual nest (it was rather dark!) and heard now
> chicks.  Has anyone else ever noticed Rough-wings using trailers to nest?
> 
> Kurt Schwarz
> HowCo
>  
> 

During the current atlas, I have found so many instances of R-w Swallows 
nesting in parked (hopefully, for extended periods) semi-trailers that I 
now list them as THE primary nest site for the species in my "Helpful 
Hints to PG Atlasers" (which should still be linked from the MOS web 
site). Atlasers should routinely drive thru the industrial parks in 
their blocks and look for them.

-- 
Fred Fallon
PG Coordinator, MD-DC Breeding Bird Atlas
Bowie MD