Subject: Black and Vaux's swifts
Date: May 21 11:03:00 1996
From: "Gates, Bryan" - BGATES at assessment.env.gov.bc.ca


Scott Downes wrote:

>around 1989 in Eugene where I lived at that time... one
>summer nearly 1000 Vauks and Black swifts would swirl into a
>abandoned church chimney.

I've never been able to find any references to indicate that Black Swifts
will use chimneys or hollow trees for roosting or nesting. The Black Swift
is quite a different species in the sense that it lacks the stiff spines at
the tips of the tail feathers, which are present on both Vaux's and Chimney
swifts. Presumably these spines aid in climbing into and out of chimneys and
deep, hollow trees. Lacking these spines, Blacks typically nest on
ledges of cliff faces or crevices, and occasionally behind waterfalls. Have
others observed chimney or tree use by Black Swifts? Any references on the
subject?

A chimney event involving Vaux's Swifts was reported to me just yesterday.
It occurred on May 12 at Chemainus, B.C. (north of Victoria). The home
owners were out for an evening walk when "up to 500" Vaux's Swifts started
circling their home. Suddenly, down the chimney! The couple went inside and
found great squeeling and chipping noises, flying soot all over the carpet
and 40 to 50 birds that had made it right down to the fireplace. They were
being held in there by the glass doors, but were still active because of the
light from the windows. The woman blanketed the fireplace and things
settled down for the night.

The next morning all of the birds left the chimney except for the 40 to 50
that had to be rescued from the fireplace. Apparently the damper was partly
closed, possibly preventing the birds from climbing back out, or they simply
were more focussed on the light from the windows. All rescued birds seemed
unharmed as they flew off.

I told the woman to be prepared --- the birds may return in the fall.

Which brings up my next questions: Does this species tend to return to the
same chimney(s) in successive seasons? Is the site reported in Olympia a
"traditional" migratory stopover? How do the birds tell a "safe" chimney
from one that could get hot and smokey at any time?

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