FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Re: chimney swifts @ Luther Jackson Middle School in Merrifield

[Frederick Atwood <fredatwood@xxxxxxxxx>]

FASCINATING!  This possibly answers the question
that I have been wondering about for a few days
now, namely "Where have all the Oakton swifts
gone?".  Last Thursday at Oakton Elementary
School there was a total of about 1430 swifts
(nearly three times as many as the nights
before). Many of the swifts kept coming in and
out of the chimney as if it was too small for all
them to find roosting space.  For the next three
nights the numbers were under 50 birds entering
the chimney and a few dozen seeming to circle
around and then continue on to the east. The last
night I checked (Oct 5) had only 2 birds roosting
at Oakton elementary.  I wonder if they all
followed the crowd to Luther Jackson.  I will be
reporting the details of the Oakton roost info to
the chimney swift roost Swiftwatch website soon.

The Luther Jackson chimney is much bigger than
the one at Oakton elementary.

I am planning to take some students to Luther
Jackson at dusk tomorrow night.  PLease let me
know about the roost status if anyone visits the
roost tonight.
Thanks!!!
Fred

--- jeff clark <jeff@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Tonight after dinner my wife and I saw a HUGE
> Chimney Swift flock at Luther
> Jackson Middle School in Merrifield (right near
> the the corner of Route 50
> and Gallows (North side of 50) across from the
> Sweetwater Tavern).
> 
> We watched from about 6:55pm - 7:20pm. I would
> estimate 2000+ birds, it was
> quite simply incredible! They were just pouring
> into the big chimney at peak
> rates of up to 10-20 a second for minutes at a
> time.
> 
> Fred Atwood I know that you posted a while back
> about looking for a huge
> roost, well this is certainly a very big one!
> 
> Good Birding,
>
---------------------------------------------------------------
> Jeff Clark
> Fairfax City, VA
> http://www.nothoo.com
> jeff -at- nothoo.com
> 
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=====
Frederick D. Atwood     fredatwood@xxxxxxxxx
Flint Hill School, 10409 Academic Dr, Oakton, VA 22124
703-242-1675     
http://www.agpix.com/fredatwood
http://www.flinthill.org

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