COUNTING CHIMNEY SWIFTS ON THE WING IS EASIER USING AN IMAGE…but it still is challenging!
Chimney swifts up in the air
Chimney swifts seen everywhere
Some wings are up, some wings are down
Bodies tilt as they glide around
Some head toward us, some aim west
All will seek a place to rest
Some birds seem close, some further away
They need a place for a nighttime’s stay
Tell me now, how well you fare
Counting chimney swifts up in the air!
Try counting the chimney swifts circling above the chimney as they prepare to roost (top photo). You can check your counts against the “red blips” marked on the lower photo.
Many thanks to NICK STEFANO, KINGSTON, ON, for taking this amazing photo of chimney swifts approaching a roost at 318 Westdale Ave, Kingston, On (May 18, 2014). Thanks also to Rob Stewart for applying his “walrus census technique” to counting the birds (Photo B). Both images were posted by Frank Machovec, our much appreciated webmaster.
