Re: roosting chimney swifts

Kathy Klimkiewicz (Kathy_Klimkiewicz@usgs.gov)
Fri, 18 Sep 1998 14:22:33 -0600 

     There is a large roost of Chimney Swifts in Laurel just south of Rt 
     198 east (Gorman Ave) in the 800 block of Fourth Street. The chimney 
     is on an old apartment building on the east side of the street just 
     before Marshall Avenue. Timing is very similar to this report with 
     birds funneling into the chimney around 7:15 pm on until dark. Last 
     year this roost built to around 3500 to 4000 birds. Indeed it is a 
     sight to see. If you come by stop and say hello as I live at 825 
     Fourth St.
     
     Cheers,
     Kathy Klimkiewicz 


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: roosting chimney swifts
Author:  mdosprey@ARI.Net at NBS-Internet-Gateway
Date:    9/16/98 7:53 PM


Thanks to Elliot's message from yesterday, I went to 39th & Canterbury 
(Baltimore city) this evening at 7 pm to watch for funneling chimney swifts. 
They were massing around in an unorganized manner until about 7:20, then 
started circling a particular building - round and round and round it.  As the 
circle thinned out and I didn't see any  birds diving into chimneys, I walked 
between two buildings and found THE chimney.  Hundreds and hundreds - diving 
sporadically into the chimney.  Pretty neat, and only a mile from home.
     
THE chimney is between the two buildings of The Hamilton, a 3-story apartment 
building on the south side of 39th Street just at the corner of Canterbury. 
There is a short driveway between the two buildings that, if you walk up it 
and look at the back of the building on your right, you will see THE chimney. 
     
If you haven't ever seen this spectacle it is worth the trip.
     
Francine Nietubicz