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Hi all:
=20
In researching this behaviour further in my book Birds' Nests by Hal H. Har=
rison=2C which is a Peterson Field Guide it says the following:
=20
That a strange behaviour occurs known as bill sweeping seen only during bre=
eding season=2C may be territorial defense mechanism. Both birds engage in=
prolonged sweeping of bill in a wide arc in or outside cavity=2C generally=
with insect held in bill. Unproven theory is that crushed insect may repe=
l squirrels searching for available cavity. It is unlikely that this is co=
urtship behaviour. On the basis of observations both this year and last ye=
ar=2C locals saw this behaviour with pieces of grass and wood=2C which tell=
s me that possibly we might have a geographical difference here or ornithol=
ogists do not know a whole lot about this behaviour yet. This behaviour wa=
s seen at the nest entrance and also on parts of the surrounding tree. =20
=20
James R. Hirtle
Bayport =
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margin:0px=3B
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Hi all:<BR>
 =3B<BR>
In researching this behaviour further in my book Birds' Nests by Hal H. Har=
rison=2C which is a Peterson Field Guide it says the following:<BR>
 =3B<BR>
That a strange behaviour occurs known as bill sweeping seen only during bre=
eding season=2C may be territorial defense mechanism. =3B Both birds en=
gage in prolonged sweeping of bill in a wide arc in or outside cavity=2C ge=
nerally with insect held in bill. =3B Unproven theory is that crushed i=
nsect may repel squirrels searching for available cavity. =3B It is unl=
ikely that this is courtship behaviour. =3B On the basis of observation=
s both this year and last year=2C locals saw this behaviour with pieces of =
grass and wood=2C which tells me that possibly we might have a geographical=
difference here or ornithologists do not know a whole lot about this behav=
iour yet. =3B This behaviour was seen at the nest entrance and also on =
parts of the surrounding tree. =3B <BR>
 =3B<BR>
James R. Hirtle<BR>
Bayport<BR> </body>
</html>=
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