Subject: [Tweeters] Vaux's swifts in Mukilteo
Date: May 5 21:27:18 2008
From: Paulette Hunter - paulette.hunter at att.net


Dear Tweeters:

As many of you know a number of us have been working to save an old
chimney in Monroe that is used as a roosting site for the Vaux's
swifts. When I heard "cheep cheep cheep" from my deck in Mukilteo, I
was certain that I had swifts on the brain and that there were baby
birds nearby. That is, until I looked up. What a thrill. After so much
time and effort being expended on those little critters, here they
were right in my own back yard. As Larry Schwitters said, "It is a
truth-is-stranger-than-fiction thing."

I was on the deck about 8PM when I first heard them. By 8:30
approximately 50 had circled and finally tucked themselves in for the
night. The chimney they chose is right next door. (It's 8PM and a few
are starting to gather. They went in a few at a time tonight and I was
able to count 53. 8:35 and they're done.) What a treat to be able to
watch them. (Unfortunately these small flocks likely have a lower
survival rate than the bigger ones.)

To fill you in since my last posting...our project to save the Wagner
Elementary chimney is going well. We are planning educational
programs for the Wagner students, had two well-attended public
meetings, have scheduled a presentation for the Monroe City Council
and September 6 has been selected as a day to "Celebrate the Monroe
Swifts". We are successfully raising awareness in the Monroe
community and yes, they are birds not bats as so many locals had
thought. Robin Fitch, principal at Wagner posted a notice on the
school's reader board during WASL week saying, "Even the Vaux's
Swifts returned to take the WASL". That should settle it!

Monroe (Wagner Elementary) has the largest known flock of Vaux's
swifts in Washington State and the second or third largest known flock
in North America. They roost here for a few short weeks each spring
and fall and are here now so you may enjoy going to see 3-4000
descend into the chimney at sunset. (8-8:30PM).

Check out the chimneys in your own neighborhoods and let Larry
Schwitters know if you see other flocks. (lpatters at ix.netcom.com).
People all over the state are working to try to locate these
diminishing little birds. Based on first-hand but unscientific
accounts, we believe the birds are in serious decline due to
diminishing habitat. We hope to get a better handle on their numbers
with the help of our Tweeters volunteers. To see a youtube video of
the swifts at Chapman Elementary in Portland see below.

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Paulette Hunter
Education Chair
Seattle Audubon
paulette.hunter at att.net