Now that fall is over and winter is here, and barring some unprecedented event, it seems safe to say that the last Chimney Swift of 2014 has been sighted in Philadelphia. I've combed the eBird reports of Chimney Swifts from this fall, and it appears the last one seen in the city was in fact also the last one seen in all the state.
Sightings of Chimney Swifts continued well into mid-October. The Heinz Refuge (Tinicum) is our mostly heavily birded site in Philly and swifts were there ~daily until October 14th, and then the last sighting there was October 18th by Jonah Joffe. Later, Gary Jarvis noted several in center city on Oct. 23rd. But the final sighting came from the guru of Philadelphia birding himself, Keith Russell. He saw a pair of Chimney Swifts up on the Belmont Plateau on Halloween. Keith is the Outreach Coordinator for Audubon Pennsylvania, and has a greater knowledge of Philadelphia birding than anyone else around. You can read more about Keith on the DVOC Webpage in "20 Questions with Keith Russell". Keith is one of a number of Germantown Friends School graduates who are birders.
Come next September think about making a trip one evening to see these birds come into roost at dusk. On their migration route to South America they congregate in large roosts, including in the city at places like Jenks School in Chestnut Hill and elsewhere. At Jenks in late September sometimes over 2000 swifts are seen within an hour. An article by Jane Henderson on this phenomenon is available on the DVOC website here.
Click here to see a video of these birds going to roost at a high school in Manayunk.
The Vaux's Swift of the western U.S. behaves similarly and a video of their dramatic roosting behavior can be seen by clicking here (at about 3:20 a falcon or accipiter rips through the flock to raucous applause).
So that's all for the Chimney Swifts until April. Keep an ear out then and perhaps you'll be the first to detect them and get the FOY (first of year) Chimney Swift.
Sightings of Chimney Swifts continued well into mid-October. The Heinz Refuge (Tinicum) is our mostly heavily birded site in Philly and swifts were there ~daily until October 14th, and then the last sighting there was October 18th by Jonah Joffe. Later, Gary Jarvis noted several in center city on Oct. 23rd. But the final sighting came from the guru of Philadelphia birding himself, Keith Russell. He saw a pair of Chimney Swifts up on the Belmont Plateau on Halloween. Keith is the Outreach Coordinator for Audubon Pennsylvania, and has a greater knowledge of Philadelphia birding than anyone else around. You can read more about Keith on the DVOC Webpage in "20 Questions with Keith Russell". Keith is one of a number of Germantown Friends School graduates who are birders.
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| These "flying cigars" were drinking and bathing late in the day at Edgewood Lake in FDR Park. (Sept 2013) Photo © G. Armistead |
Come next September think about making a trip one evening to see these birds come into roost at dusk. On their migration route to South America they congregate in large roosts, including in the city at places like Jenks School in Chestnut Hill and elsewhere. At Jenks in late September sometimes over 2000 swifts are seen within an hour. An article by Jane Henderson on this phenomenon is available on the DVOC website here.
Click here to see a video of these birds going to roost at a high school in Manayunk.
The Vaux's Swift of the western U.S. behaves similarly and a video of their dramatic roosting behavior can be seen by clicking here (at about 3:20 a falcon or accipiter rips through the flock to raucous applause).
So that's all for the Chimney Swifts until April. Keep an ear out then and perhaps you'll be the first to detect them and get the FOY (first of year) Chimney Swift.
BTW, noticed a roost site on Parrish St near 28th this year. Will be checking next fall
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