Subject: swift spectacle, and a question
Date: Aug 28 13:14:52 2004
From: Paul Hicks - PHicks at accessgrace.org


Tweets,

Friday evening, August 27, Colleen and I encountered 50-70, perhaps 100, Vaux's Swifts during our evening walk in Tenino. From 8:00 to 8:07pm we observed them all enter a chimney to roost. It was truly amazing! I assume if you arrive by 7:45pm this weekend it seems you have a good chance of seeing the same spectacle. Bob Sundstrom says this phenomenon could last several days or a week, depending on weather. Location: 125 Sussex E.: Joe's Car & Truck Sales/Brazil Stove sales, corner of Hodgden & Sussex (= the "main drag" = Old Hwy 99/SR 507), across the street from City Hall & Fire Dept., kitty korner to the post office (a good place to park and view).

This chimney is a consistent swift magnet. Through the summer I regularly saw three swifts (why three??) cruising the neighborhood, most any time of day. Over several days (evenings actually) in mid-August the numbers swelled to 25 to 30.

I have never observed these numbers nor the roosting activity in the fall.
The surprise was doubly pleasant because swift numbers during spring
migration were very sparse (around 15 max as I recall) compared to previous years. In the early to mid-nineties flocks of 70 appeared regularly around May 10. I'd have to check my records (if I could find them!), but I believe I once counted upwards to 200 while working on my roof.

I don't know if there is a direct connection, but the past week I've
noticed a "hatch" of termites flying around.

Here's my question: How do these migrating flocks FIND this place (and other spots) to roost? Do they "know" it is there? How? Is there a connection with the 3 summering individuals? and with the 30 that have been hanging out (daily? I don't know) since at least Aug 13? (I'd probably need to count every evening.)

If you're in the neighborhood please feel free to stop by our place for
coffee, tea, juice, whatever. It's always fun to meet other birders. We're
the big green house with maroon stationwagon west of the Exxon station on the main drag, 475 Sussex W.

Good birding!

Paul Hicks
Tenino, WA
phicks AT accessgrace.org