Thanks to Dennis, Skip and Mike for information on Cape Flattery Black Swift
(BLSW) sightings. It is clear that the few records available neither confirm
nor refute my assumption that spring arrivals of this species to Vanc. Is.
may come via Flattery. More work to be done!

I lied yesterday. Contrary to what I said, my collegue Wayne Campbell
advises that we have no confirmed nest records for BLSW on Vanc. Is.,
although nesting is suspected.

It's amazing how little we know about this species...too swift
for us, I guess.

A memorable encounter occured one early evening about Sept. 10, 1989 when
I met with "hundreds" of BLSW and "hundreds" of Common Nighthawks (CONI)
flying and feeding together over the Vancouver Island Highway in the heart of
Parksville, BC. When I say "over", I mean as low as windshield height. I
stopped. Others stopped. A crowd soon gathered (the supermarket emptied) to
ask what they were. A 20-minute show ensued.

The birds were responding to the typical early evening hatch or nuptial
flight of large flying termites (Zootermopsis angusticollis) emerging from
nearby beach logs. Also particpating were dozens of Bonaparte's Gulls and a
few Glaucous-winged Gulls. An unforgetable event! We found ourselves
watching a termite in the air and predicting what species of bird would get
it. It was my closest and best ever chance to see and hear Black Swifts.

This raises a question: have others noticed similar feeding or migratory
associations between BLSW and CONI? Both arrive on Vanc. Is about the same
time in June each year (although the bulk of the CONI may be a week to 10
days later) and both depart at the same time (mid Sept, with a few stragglers
to the end of Sept).

Bryan Gates, Victoria
bgates at assessment.env.gov.bc.ca