Black Swifts nest in sea caves in California and BC, and on high
non-waterfall cliffs in BC. Maybe they are trying non-waterfall
locations in Washington. They ordinarily feed so high that they are
seen only in unusually bad weather, like this May & June here in
Seattle.

Richard Carlson
Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian
Part-time Economist
Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA
rccarl at pacbell.net
Tucson 520-760-4935
Tahoe 530-581-0624
Kirkland 425-828-3819
Cell 650-280-2965


----- Original Message ----
From: Larry Schwitters <lpatters at ix.netcom.com>
To: Jim Danzenbaker <jdanzenbaker at gmail.com>
Cc: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Wednesday, July 2, 2008 11:50:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Battle Ground Black Swift & Questions

Jim,

I had the same thoughts viewing a single low flying Black Swift just
SE of Mt St. Helens in the very early morning of July 10, 2005.

Not every bird breeds and they travel long distances. It still makes
one think that there should be a waterfall for at least roosting
within 50 miles or so, especially if you saw yours in the evening.

The closest maybe but probably not site is Panther Falls in the
Gifford Pinchot. Another maybe, but probably not, is Starvation Creek
Falls on the Oregon side of the Columbia. For all the waterfalls that
there are along the Columbia, none of them seem to have a swift nest
friendly rock structure. Basalt usually doesn't cut it.

Someone needs to hike up Oregon's Eagle Creek trail and check out all
the waterfalls up there, especially Tunnel Falls.

Larry Schwitters
Issaquah
On Jul 2, 2008, at 8:43 PM, Jim Danzenbaker wrote:

> HI Tweeters,
>
> At 7:30 tonight, I was surprised to see a single low flying unmistable
> BLACK SWIFT cruise by the yard in Battle Ground, Clark County. I have
> only seen this species once before from the yard and that was during
> their spring migration last year. Tonight's sighting makes no sense
> to me though - they shouldn't be around here now. However, tonight
> there are some large cumulus clouds around (especially one to the East
> which looks like it may be enveloping the closest foothills and
> mountains) and generally cloudy overall. That leads me to ask the
> following questions:
>
> Where is the closest known Black Swift breeding colony to central
> Clark County?
> Do subadult birds hang out at the breeding colonies or could they
> "wander"?
> Has anyone else seen any Black Swifts away from breeding clonies
> lately?
>
> A single Vaux's Swift just flew by which is only the second one I've
> seen from the yard this year.
>
> Thanks for any information.
>
> Jim
> --
> Jim Danzenbaker
> Battle Ground, WA
> 360-723-0345
> jdanzenbaker at gmail.com
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> Tweeters at u.washington.edu
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