Last evening just before dark we were thrilled to see the largest concentration of Chimney Swifts we've seen since we lived on S. Aurora St. in the '60s. There we lived across from the "Old Ladies' Home" on the corner of Hillview Pl. where every night in the summer swifts by the dozens swirled down into the tall chimney ...... until the chimney was covered with wire to keep them out.
Here on the campus of Union Springs Academy in Union Springs is a tall chimney on the girl's dorm. We've not noticed any swifts use this chimney in our 20 yrs. here until last evening when we, our daughter & a couple friends were astounded to see, not swallows, but dozens of swifts overhead, apparently feeding. Some would dive towards the chimney, perhaps making a trial run to inspect the possibilities of a night roost. Suddenly the first brave ones began fluttering down into the chimney as the others continued feeding & then they were all down the dark cavern. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT!!! All summer I have seen only about 5 swifts, except one evening when Kathy Strickland was here & we saw about 20. Will these dozens perhaps remember this chimney next year & return to nest????? Oh, I hope so!! HABBAGUDDAY, everyone!! Fritzie -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --