Hi Tweets,

A friend and I counted approximately 7,000 Vaux's Swifts entering the
Northern State Hospital chimney this evening in Sedro Woolley. The
crowd started gathering about 7:05 p.m., began entering the chimney at
7:35 p.m. and the show was over at 8:13 p.m. We counted from the
sheltered picnic tables while the Great Horned Owl perched at the top
of a nearby cedar tree. At one point I got distracted by a lone Black
Swift flying by in a northeasterly direction toward the foothills.
When we did this outing a year ago we think we counted around 20
Vaux's using the chimney. Having the chimney door shut has improved
the roosting habitat considerably.

cheers,

Carol Riddell
Edmonds