Barn and other swallows migrate along the Columbia in huge numbers. I have
observed 5,000+ Barn Swallows along the White Bluffs on the Hanford Site in
early September. I have noted smaller, but still impressive movements of
other swallows such as Tree, Cliff and Bank Swallows along the Columbia
too.

I'm in a betting mood tonight. If an observer set up a comfortable lawn
chair in the shade along the Columbia in south-central Washington and spent
all daylight hours throughout the migration season (beginning in late June
or early July with Cliff Swallows), I would wager he/she might count
several millions of swallows of various species (not to mention the
possibility of sighting many, many "coastal" species inland, like the 3
Sabine's Gulls on Priest Rapids Lake 6 and 7 September this past weekend).

And all swallows don't follow river valleys. Barn and Tree Swallows
especially, can be met with just about anywhere on migration (ridges, peaks
etc).

AndyStepniewski
Wapato WA
----------
> From: George Clulow <gclulow at cln.etc.bc.ca>
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Subject: Barn Swallow migration
> Date: Tuesday, September 09, 1997 10:42 PM
>
> Tweets
>
> While I am cautious to present a second-hand report to the list, I
wouldn't
> do so unless I was sure of its accuracy. The following I hope you'll
agree
> is of interest.
>
> Malcolm Bailey (a teacher colleague) is a keen, non-excitable observer of
> the natural world and an occasional birding buddy of mine. Last evening
> (Sept.8), he was in a boat on the Fraser River fishing for salmon (they
> caught Sockeye, Pinks and Springs - but let's ignore this thread) on the
> north side of Chilliwack Mtn. in the vicinity of Grassy Bar. This
location
> is approx 70 miles up the Fraser Valley from Vancouver.
>
> As dusk was approaching, he became aware of a large number of swallows
over
> the river flying in many directions. As he looked, he noticed that the
> birds were not only at low levels but at all levels in the sky including
at
> the limit of his vision as dots at high altitude. This stopped him
fishing
> and he observed the birds more closely. He was astounded by the number of
> birds.
>
> The birds descended and flew into an area approx. 100-150 yds x 50yds of
6'
> to 8' high willows/alders on a sand bar (not connected to the shore) to
> roost. He estimates that the number of swallows was at the absolute
minimum
> 5000 and he believes that given the low light in which he was trying to
> estimate, the number could have been double this.
>
> The birds were all Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) and he accurately
> described to me a mixed flock of adults and immatures and is sure the
flock
> contained no other swallow species.
>
> He and his fishing partners all got streaked from the birds flying
overhead.
>
> Birds of B.C. vol. 3, Campbell et al, mentions flocks of up to 2000 birds
> in southbound migration and also the mass roost phenomonen.
>
> What intrigued me about Malcolm's observation was the number of birds and
> their choice of what I assume is a relatively predator-free roost site.
>
> Of course, then the questions come:
>
> Is the Fraser Valley a major conduit of migrating Barn Swallows from the
> interior of the province or is this an aggregation of local birds?
>
> Are similar sightings made on the Columbia, Skagit?
>
> Is this an unusual size flock or are similar numbers reported from other,
> non-B.C., locations?
>
> Are such migration roost sites regular from year to year or was this just
a
> fortuitous find for the birds?
>
> Malcolm and I would welcome your thoughts, knowledge and ideas.
>
> P.S.
> We are going to try to access the site from land on Thursday to see if
this
> was a one day event or is happening more regularly during migration. I'll
> let you know what we see.
>
>
> * George Clulow *
> * Langley School District *
> * 4875 222nd Street Tel: (604) 530 2711(work) *
> * Langley, B.C. Fax: (604) 530 2906 *
> * V3A 3Z7 *
>