[NatureNS] Falmouth swifts

From: "john belbin" <jbelbin@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: "NatureNS" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Date: Sat, 22 May 2010 22:18:51 -0300
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <naturens-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

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This was the first evening I have had an opportunity to check out the =
old farmhouse at Sangster Bridge, Upper Falmouth. It has been hosting =
chimney swifts for many years.

When I first arrived I was a little worried, the very large chimney now =
sports evidence of 2 chimney liner/inserts that were not there last =
year. However, at 8.35 8 swifts were circling high over head and showing =
lots of interest. I know the chimney has multiple flues and the owner is =
very interested in the birds, so I assume she has left their private =
roost intact.

Conditions were very high overcast cloud, 15 C and wind of 10 km SW
The resident SORA was calling loudly from the nearby pond and got louder =
as the evening progressed.  Breeding Grackles and Red Winged Blackbirds =
- lots of frogs - a couple of small ducks seen only in silhouette and =
calling Canada Geese from the fields nearby. Several Humming Birds =
zooming about.
 Tree Swallows present also.

At 8:50 the time I expected action to begin 15 Swifts were still =
circling high overhead. Local pheasants were calling loudly.
A single swift entered the chimney at 8:52 and another at 9:00 pm. The =
cloud of swifts was growing rapidly.=20
9:04 the entry began in small groups and was almost continuous until =
9:15 by which time a total of 108 birds had dropped into this domestic =
chimney.

By the time I left the frogs were truly deafening - there must be quite =
a population in that small pond. The geese flew over as I left.
John Belbin, Hantsport
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<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>This was the first evening I have had =
an=20
opportunity to check out the old farmhouse at Sangster Bridge, Upper =
Falmouth.=20
It has been hosting chimney swifts for many years.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>When I first arrived I was a little =
worried, the=20
very large chimney now sports evidence of 2 chimney liner/inserts that =
were not=20
there last year. However, at 8.35 8 swifts were circling high over head =
and=20
showing lots of interest. I know the chimney has multiple flues and the =
owner is=20
very interested in the birds, so I assume she has left their private =
roost=20
intact.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>Conditions were very high overcast =
cloud, 15 C and=20
wind of 10 km SW</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>The resident SORA was calling loudly =
from the=20
nearby pond and got louder as the evening progressed.&nbsp; Breeding =
Grackles=20
and Red Winged Blackbirds - lots of frogs - a couple of small ducks seen =
only in=20
silhouette and calling Canada Geese from the fields nearby. Several =
Humming=20
Birds zooming about.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>&nbsp;Tree Swallows present =
also.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>At 8:50 the time I expected action to =
begin 15=20
Swifts were still circling high overhead. Local pheasants were calling=20
loudly.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>A single swift entered the chimney at =
8:52 and=20
another at 9:00 pm. The cloud of swifts was growing rapidly. =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>9:04 the entry began in small groups =
and was almost=20
continuous until 9:15 by which time a total of 108 birds had dropped =
into this=20
domestic chimney.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>By the time I left the frogs were truly =
deafening -=20
there must be quite a population in that small pond. The geese flew over =
as I=20
left.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>John Belbin, =
Hantsport</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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