If you enjoy Chimney Swifts

[Louise Chambers]

Here's some news and some video links you'll enjoy.

ALTHEA R. SHERMAN PROJECT
Sherman Chimney Swifts' Tower Webcam on Raptor Resource Project's Facebook Page

Bob Anderson and his crew from the Raptor Resource Project have made the live streaming video from the Sherman Tower possible.

The live streaming of the nesting swifts is now on the Raptor Resource Project's Facebook Page. It can be accessed at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Raptor-R ... 6266324668

Or view a brief story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqKcbhIar4s

Continue to watch for photo updates and commentary from Linda & Robert Scarth at:

http://scarthphoto.com/

http://scarthphoto.com/wp/

[taxidermy lady]

Thanks that was so cool. I love the way they fly. They are out by the river flying with the swallows. You can pick them out of the crowd easily! Are they related to the swallow family?

[Louise Chambers]

No, you'd think they might be related to swallows, but they are actually in the same family as hummingbirds (due, in part, to the arrangement of their toes, which matches that of hummingbirds)

a snippet of info here: http://theiwrc.org/kids/Facts/Birds/hummingbirds.htm

[taxidermy lady]

Very interesting Thanks

[dhjohnson]

We still have one nest left to fledge! Any day now! Swifts are cool too!

[Jose Rodriguez]

That was cool! Thanks for sharing. Can't wait for spring!

[Louise Chambers]

We're still seeing large groups of Chimney Swifts here on the south TX coast - not every night but ahead of weather fronts especially. Some nights they check out our chimney for a roost site, but usually the move on. Fun to see them along with a few late nighthawks.

Also saw oodles of dragonflies the other day, along with the swifts - the dflies were flying low, in people's front yards, maybe to avoid the swifts, which were flying at or just above tree level. Still plenty of flying insects to eat here.

[taxidermy lady]

Yeah there's still rough or bank swallows here in southern Illinois. They may be moving on this weekend, suppose to be 40 degrees. Really enjoy watching them. Very similar to the martins.

[Louise Chambers]

Tree Swallows can be late migrants, too - they do not have to travel as far, since many winter in southern US. We saw huge flocks in NJ and WI in fall - can't remember if Sept or Oct. Big flocks in FL in December, too.

Still seeing Barn Swallows here as well. and still have some hummingbirds

[Mhoover]

I still have tree swallows and barn swallows flying around here. There was a mixed flock of close to a hundred here this morning with maybe thirty tree swallows feeding overhead this afternoon.

[taxidermy lady]

These little swallows are brown and white. Maybe young tree swallows? Whatever they are they are fun to watch.

[Louise Chambers]

I would bet they are not Bank Swallows, those share the roost with martins at the PMCA roost site in Erie, so they are long gone. The other brown and white swallow is the Northern Rough-winged - could be those, too. I love watching swallows and swifts They are awesome aerialists - bugs, watch out!

[Craig Haddox]

Still seeing some chimney swifts here in Washington, Missouri. The latest I've seen them is Oct. 10th here.

[taxidermy lady]

I had a small line of frost this morning on my roof in the back of the house. The thermostat said 39 and the little swallows were still on the power line, they are little troopers. I guess they know what they are doing! Have a lot of respect for them

[Jim Beatson~SC]

Lousie,

Interesting that you say the chimney swift is related to the hunningbird. Several days ago in my yard I saw a ruby throat bumping a swift along like the grackles do the hawks. A real quick, amazing show.

They nest/roost in my neighbor's chimney.

Jim

[JJ Jones]

I was down at the marina in Aurora, IN this past weekend and observed several chimney swifts feeding around the boat docks. My hummingbirds have been gone about a week now. They were a treat this season!