Hi Tweets,

James Davis (former ED of Portland Audubon) is in the process of
updating his book, "Seasonal Guide to the Natural Year: OR, WA, BC"
published in 1996. He is looking for updated information on the Vaux's
Swift roosts of the Northwest and he needs more information on the
roosts of Washington State. Does anyone know if the colonies in the
"old US Customs House in Sumas" or "near the tiny town of Klickitat" are
still active? Are there any others besides the elementary school in
Monroe?

Thank you,
Adam Sedgley
adams at seattleaudubon.org





________________________________

From: James Davis [mailto:jackalope at hevanet.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 4:18 PM
To: info
Subject: vaux's swift roosts


Hi there,
I'm James Davis, former education director of Portland Audubon and
author of the wildlife watching guide "Seasonal Guide to the Natural
Year: OR, WA, BC" which was published in 1996. You probably sold it back
then. It has been out of print since 1999 and I am now rewriting it for
re-publication by Timber Press in Portland.
One of my chapters is on Vaux's swifts and the roosts they form in the
fall with 100's to 1000's of them going into a chimney at sunset to
roost for the night. We have the well-known roost at Chapman School that
is said to be the biggest in the world. There are two others I know of
in Oregon.

I am trying to find out if there are any known swift roosts in
Washington at the present time. For many years there was a well-know
roost in the chimney of the old US Customs House in Sumas, and it was in
my book. Is it still active? I have not been able to find out if the
Customs House even still exists let alone what's up with the birds. Do
you, or anyone you can contact, know anything about this roost? I would
love to know.

I have also heard over the years of various sites that have been used
near the tiny town of Klickitat, near the Klickitat Wildlife Area. I
have not been able to contact any one who has information about that
roost at present. Again, if you can give me any information about that
roost or someone who would know about that roost, I would greatly
appreciate it.


Thanks, James
James L. Davis
1523 NE 57th
Portland, OR 97213
503-281-2345