Jerry, I have no doubt the Black Swifts seen away from the North Cascade
valleys I outlined before are there only on foraging stints. Their reason
for being out in the shrub-steppe zone is most probably tied to cool and
rainy weather near their breeding cliffs. Black Swifts nesting near
Snoqualmie Pass probably undertake daily forays as far as Ellensburg if
its rotten weather "at the pass." Boy, wouldn't it be grand to radio tag a
few to prove this!"

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato, WA