[NatureNS] The Single Bank Swallow

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Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 17:46:20 -0300
From: Rick Whitman <dendroica.caerulescens@gmail.com>
To: naturens <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
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I saw something that I felt was quite unusual today. I was on the dyke at
Horton Landing, watching the Shorebirds. The high tide was just over 14 m
today so the Shorebirds were forced right up against the main dyke on a
limited number of rock areas. Eventually there was a single rock apron not
covered, but this interaction started well before that as it lasted for
most of an hour.
There was a single Bank Swallow along the dyke today, in contrast to as
many as 140 as recently as July 28th. This bird could only be described as
very attracted, or very interested, or very curious about the concentration
of Shorebirds. Over roughly an hour, it landed right among the Shorebirds 8
or 10 times. In between these landings, it would make a normal foraging
flight along the dyke, and back, in either direction. It flew normally. The
Shorebirds always cleared a bit of space for it as its fluttering flight
seemed to make them a bit nervous.
I have added 3 photos to my gallery that show the Bank Swallow settled on
two different rocks. In the first two, it is right in front of 2-3
Dowitchers.
I'm not sure I've ever seen such extended "social" interaction between
species of birds that are so distantly related.
And BTW, I'm just describing what I observed. I don't want to see feedback
about "anthropomorphic comments".

*http://tinyurl.com/kezmbjw*

Rick Whitman

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<div dir=3D"ltr">I saw something that I felt was quite unusual today. I was=
 on the dyke at Horton Landing, watching the Shorebirds. The high tide was =
just over 14 m today so the Shorebirds were forced right up against the mai=
n dyke on a limited number of rock areas. Eventually there was a single roc=
k apron not covered, but this interaction started well before that as it la=
sted for most of an hour.<div>
There was a single Bank Swallow along the dyke today, in contrast to as man=
y as 140 as recently as July 28th. This bird could only be described as ver=
y attracted, or very interested, or very curious about the concentration of=
 Shorebirds. Over roughly an hour, it landed right among the Shorebirds 8 o=
r 10 times. In between these landings, it would make a normal foraging flig=
ht along the dyke, and back, in either direction. It flew normally. The Sho=
rebirds always cleared a bit of space for it as its fluttering flight seeme=
d to make them a bit nervous.</div>
<div>I have added 3 photos to my gallery that show the Bank Swallow settled=
 on two different rocks. In the first two, it is right in front of 2-3 Dowi=
tchers.<br clear=3D"all"><div>I&#39;m not sure I&#39;ve ever seen such exte=
nded &quot;social&quot; interaction between species of birds that are so di=
stantly related.</div>
<div>And BTW, I&#39;m just describing what I observed. I don&#39;t want to =
see feedback about &quot;anthropomorphic comments&quot;.</div><div><br></di=
v><div><b style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvet=
ica,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/kezmbjw">http:=
//tinyurl.com/kezmbjw</a></b><br>
</div><div><br></div>Rick Whitman<br>
</div></div>

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