Subject: Swifts Near Auburn
Date: Sep 1 07:18:24 2004
From: Lynn Schulz - linusq at worldnet.att.net


Hi Tweeters:
I found a small swift roost SE of Auburn, WA yesterday evening. It is
located in a chimney on a large barn near the Green River close to
Flaming Geyser St Park. Back in early August, I stopped at Whitney
Bridge, a small park on the Green River where people launch rafts and
inner tubes. People were playing in the water. It was a hot night
that night on Aug 1. At about 6pm I observed 6 VAUX'S SWIFTS flying
all around the large barn across the river. Suddenly, two swifts went
down into the chimney. Later Charlie Wright told me that they may
have been nesting in there, and that maybe we should observe the barn
later in the year. I finally got back down there yesterday evening,
Aug 31 about 7pm. It was fairly warm, w/ a few high clouds and no
wind. I observed about 10 swifts flying about. Later the group got
larger and I thought there were about 20 birds. At one point a BLACK
SWIFT flew by at a low altitude over the barn and continued north. At
dusk at 8pm, I counted 7 Vaux's Swifts that went down into the
chimney. The other swifts did not, and flew away. So I don't know if
this is a true migratory roost, or just a family group returning to
the nest area. But it was interesting, and I'll try to continue to
observe this chimney during migration to see if things change.
If anyone else wants to view the swift activity here are some
directions:
The large barn is located across the river from Whitney Bridge park at
a large horse ranch called Argus Ranch. There is a huge parking area
there. I parked in this lot to view the chimney at close range, but
you also could view it from across the river. Whitney Bridge is
located at Green Valley Rd at the intersection w/ 212th Way SE. It is
between Auburn and Black Diamond. It is near Flaming Geyser St Park.
I reach the area by driving east on hwy 18 past Auburn, and exiting at
Auburn-Black Diamond Rd. Take a right, and another right onto Green
Valley Rd. Drive the twisting Green Valley Rd about 6 miles ESE to
the intersection w/ 212th. Turn right to the bridge. Walk under the
highway bridge and stand on the river bank to view the large beautiful
barn across the river. The chimney seems pretty small on top of it.
Yours, Carol Schulz
DesMoines, WA
mailto:linusq at att.net