[obol] V.G. Swallow adults abandoning nest just before fledging

[Bev]

This is distressing news. Violet Green Swallows nest in a friend's yard every year, and they always fledge at least 3 young. This year, the young were a day or two from fledging, the adults feeding all day long on Saturday, July 8, then the adults were nowhere to be found all day Sunday, the 9th. The weakened young were dead on Monday. Has anyone ever witnessed this? What do you think could be the reason? This also happened last year to a friend of mine who lives in Sequim. Same thing. Frantically feeding the young, then the adults are gone. I know I will never know exactly why, but if anyone has any ideas, I'd like them to be passed along. It is such a helpless situation for the people involved in wanting to have nest boxes to help birds reproduce, then having to watch such a sad ending. 
Thank you in advance for your input.
Bev LaBelle
bevbird at hevanet.com 
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