Subject: Re: Swarms of swifts
Date: Aug 29 21:51:12 1994
From: Jerry Tangren - GSW$EN at WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU


Talking about swarms of swifts, one of the top natural phenomena
occuring in the Wenatchee area is the large swarms of Black Swifts
migrating through in late summer. On a good dark and stormy day, the
sky can be filled with literally thousands of swifts. From reading too
many bird books you get the feeling that Black Swifts are fairly rare.
They are until you hit the right day.

Our problem here is not separating out the Black from the Vaux's, but
the Vaux's from the Blacks. However it's not too difficult. Compared
to the Blacks, the Vaux's look like stubby little runts. Adding to
what Russell mentioned, the Black Swifts sometimes soar for long
distances without beating their wings. If you try studying a single
bird looking for the socalled twinkling, the bird may be out of
sight before you see a wing beat.

Jerry Tangren, Wenatchee WA