What Leads the Swallows Astray
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* Re “Is This Bye, Bye Birdies?” March 18:
Two hundred years ago, when the missions were founded, Southern California was essentially a desert.
The only communities, very small ones, were clustered around the missions. They were always situated on a watercourse near the ocean, the best sites available.
Therefore, when the swallows migrated, there were not many places for them to set up housekeeping. Thus “they came back to Capistrano.”
Now there are thousands of places where they can establish a comfortable nest. And I’d reason that that’s at least one of the principal reasons so few show up today: too much competition.
JACK CARPENTER
San Juan Capistrano
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