A couple of weeks ago, I noted some unusual behavior around the tops of some
tall trees barely in binnocular range. I dug out the scope and sighted two
fledged young birds sitting in the highest branch and the parents swooping
in to feed. The fledglings sat still begging while the parents hovered and
fed them. The coloration in the parents was all dark, the young the same
except the breast area was lighter. The color looked black in the available
light and distance. The tail in the adult was very forked.

The call was rather like a swallow but with a "tinny" sound as if it were
echoing off a metal surface. Hard to describe.

These were pretty good-sized birds, scrub jay size or slightly larger. It
was at the southwestern end of Fern Ridge Res. in an area of 20-30 year-old
conifers.

I thought at first they were Vaux Swifts but my description (and a sighting
with an experienced birder of Vaux's since) have proven they aren't. She
also thought the feeding behavior I observed was not swift like. Could
these be Purple Martins? My guides, however, state that the martins are not
that large.

Thanks,

Peggi



Peggi Rodgers
Oregon Research Institute
Eugene, OR
peggir at ori.org
prodgers at efn.org
"A bird does not sing because it has an
answer, It sings because it has a song"