Editor: Many residents seem ignorant of the protections afforded migratory bird species. I recently  noticed that a swallow nest I had been watching on the roof of a home near the R.C. Garnett school had been eradicated.  This was an act of great barbarity, as the nest contained live young.

I may lay a criminal complaint, but I want everyone to know that a) there are many eyes watching for this kind of criminality, not only mine; and b) the penalties are non-trivial. Besides, killing baby birds takes a certain level of murderous sang-froid not consistent with civilized society.

For tips on living with swallows see: http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/swallows.html.

Bruce Batchelor,

Langley