Greetings, Obolists!
For the past 15 years or so, we've had VAUX'S SWIFTS nest in our
Eugene/Santa Clara-area chimney. This year, despite the regular daytime
coming and going of swifts, it appears there was no successful nesting
since we never heard the excited calls of the young upon return of the
parents.
As a consolation prize, however, the swifts have started to use our chimney
as a nighttime roost in significant numbers for the first time. Over the
last four nights, counts have been consistently 50-55 birds. Two nights ago
the number reached 77 before there was a partial exodus (swift fart,
maybe?) Last week I counted 65 going into the neighbor's, smaller, chimney
and only two into ours. This is the only time I've seen them go into that
chimney.
I never get tired of watching their aerobatics and controlled-crash entries
into the chimney!
Rudi
