Tweeters,

THAT MAIDEN FLIGHT SURE IS A LONG ONE.

It's believed that when a young Black Swift first spreads its wings, it
is to migrate.

You would think they spend their last days on the edge of the nest
getting in shape and working the old breast muscles. Perhaps not.
Here is a report from two Utah Forest Service researchers writing about
their occupied nest find and observation on August 21, 2001 at Stewart
Falls near Provo.

"During this time the bird never left the nest, but shifted positions a
couple of times. It
preened its feathers briefly and stretched its wings one at a time.
During the early part of our observation it appeared to be searching
the sky. Later it just sat on the nest in a horizontal position without
moving at all. The assumption is that it was a juvenile bird waiting
for the parent's return.

On August 25 this site was revisited.. The nest was unoccupied."


These really are incredible creatures.

Larry Schwitters
Issaquah
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