DOCSLIB.ORG

The Coolest Bird: a Natural History of the Black Swift and Those Who

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Coolest Bird: a Natural History of the Black Swift and Those Who The Coolest Bird A Natural History of the Black Swift and Those Who Have Pursued It Rich Levad ~ 2007 ~ © 2010 American Birding Association. ~ Table of Contents ~ Foreward . .4 Acknowledgements . .6 1. Hawk Creek Falls, Colorado: A glimpse of things to come. 8 2. Semiahoo Bay, Washington: A new bird . 11 3. California’s Santa Cruz Coast: The first nest . 14 4. Johnston Canyon, Alberta: First inland nest site . 19 5. California: Charles and Enid Michaels at Yosemite . 22 6. California: Emily Smith and Berry Creek Falls . 27 7. California: Sequoia & King’s Canyon National Parks & San Jacinto Mountains . 31 8. Colorado: Niagara and Cataract Gulches . 34 9. Colorado: Al Knorr—more and more . 39 10. Arizona . 47 11. New Mexico . 53 12. Utah . 56 13. Southern California . 60 14. Northern Rocky Mountains: Montana, Idaho, Alberta . 67 15. NW Pacific Coast: British Columbia, Washington, Oregon . 73 16. Colorado post-Knorr: 1958-1996. 80 17. Colorado: Sue Hirshman and Box Canyon Falls . 87 18. Colorado 1995-1997 . 90 19. Colorado 1998 . 95 20. Colorado 1999-2000 . 102 21. Colorado: 2001-2002 . 107 22. Colorado and New Mexico 2003-2006 . 116 23. Following through in the Southern Rockies . 120 24. Recent events in the North . 125 25. The Southerners . 132 26. Today and Tomorrow . 136 Conservation Issues . 142 Bibliography . 149 3 ~ Foreword ~ y husband, Rich, was somewhat of a late comer to the hobby of bird watching; it was ducks that first lured him. He hunted them. In Colorado heavy fines can be levied for possessing certain Mspecies of ducks, so it pays to know the difference. For Rich, that need to know led to a life- long investigation into the birds of Colorado and beyond. He soon set hunting with a gun aside and armed himself instead with a pair of binoculars, a Peterson Field Guide to Western Birds, pen, and pad, and in an old Toyota pick-up, scoured the mountains and deserts of Colorado. His keen interest, insatiable curiosity, and love of the outdoors led eventually to a position with Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory where he served as special species coordinator for eight years. In that position he monitored those birds not easily tracked by conventional means. Owls, grebes, herons all fell under that category. So did Black Swift, a bird that Rich soon regarded as “the coolest bird.” Along the way, he became acquainted with a rather extensive cast of characters (see his Acknowledgement section) who shared his interest. I use the term “character” lovingly; Rich and his cohorts (and predecessors) seemed to value the quest and the risks involved nearly as much as they loved the birds. My brother-in-law’s comment on reading an early manuscript of The Coolest Bird: “They sure had fun!” They did. On the face of it, this is a book about a bird, but as is often the case, there is a story behind the story. Over the course of seven years, Rich and Owen A. Knorr (the guru of Black Swift exploration) had exchanged a spirited correspondence marked with a bit of intellectual sparring, a common desire to better understand this remarkable bird, and an interest in promoting further monitoring of the species. Rich believed that the letters formed the basis for a rather exciting story on the adventure of bird research, and he talked about “some day” setting aside time to write an article or book related to the topic. Rich would have been most contented to continue his birding adventures and to keep The Coolest Bird on a “to do” list. However, his life changed drastically in 2004 when he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), an awful, debilitating disease, known more commonly as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. People famil- iar with this illness know that it affects the bodies of its victims in myriad ways. In Rich’s case, he first noticed weakness in his thumbs and strange spasms in his muscles called fasciculations. Over the next few years, symptoms progressed to where he could no longer walk, move his fingers, or lift his arms—what seemed to his family and friends as cruel blows to a man who thrived on hiking, writing, and holding binoculars to his eyes for endless moments while counting whatever bird crossed his path. In adjusting to the circumstances that ALS imposed on him, Rich turned to the material he had already collected on the Black Swift and delved into a major research project that would absorb him for the next several years. As he approached the material, Rich considered whether he ought to use the writing as an opportunity to process his experience with illness. He deliberately chose not to and instead focused on the bird that energized and fascinated him. Rich was very clear about who this book was for. He wrote for those intelligent, thoughtful adventurers who would value a historical review of the activity of bird watching as well as a unified presentation of what is known about Black Swift. There were two dynamics at play during the last years of Rich’s life: the illness slowed him down, giving him the opportunity to write, and The Coolest Bird gave Rich an outlet to transcend the relentless betrayal of his body. What was remarkable for those observing 4 the process was how Rich brought his quiet determination, intellectual fervor, sweet nature, and humor to the challenge. This book enlivened Rich; he adjusted and refined the text until the day before his death in Febru- ary 2008, when he completed the acknowledgments. Rich was fascinated by those who pursued the Black Swift. I think he recognized kindred spirits. I also think in telling their story that he was providing a cautionary tale. Knowledge of the Black Swift begins in 1857 with Dr. Caleb Burwell Rowen Kennerly first identifying the species. The Coolest Bird traces the progres- sion of knowledge gained over the past century-and-a-half; what may be disturbing is how sporadically that knowledge was gained. Research of the Black Swift is marked by fits and starts, with relatively few individuals adding to the pool of information about the bird over the decades. The past fifteen years has provided the most consistent and wide-ranging effort to monitor Black Swift with the primary emphasis being the attempt to identify colony nest sites. The concerted effort of the last decade was encouraging and necessary. And it needs to continue. We need more people and organizations committed to the quest. Rich died on February 28, 2008, some would say after “an heroic struggle.” I wouldn’t. Rich simply lived each day to the fullest as he was able to, not focused on what he couldn’t do, but rather on what he could. He continued to live on the edge even if that was far from a canyon rim with a roaring waterfall as backdrop. Each new physical limitation provided opportunity, and he continued to find new and creative ways to meet those challenges. ALS brought Rich back to his true vocation, that of teacher. Through his skill, we have the opportunity to learn more about a fascinating species, about some intrepid explorers, about new and exciting monitoring opportunities, and about a really cool and remarkable birder—in my eyes, the coolest. Karen Levad June 16, 2010 5 ~ Acknowlegements ~ wish to thank the many volunteers and cooperators who aided our search for Black Swift nest sites in the Southern Rockies, a collection of interesting people who have been intrigued by that bird over the I past 150 years, and a circle of good friends who read drafts, made corrections, offered suggestions, and provided moral support. To this crowd, I owe a deep debt of gratitude. Those who visited and evaluated waterfalls for the Southern Rocky Mountain Region included Rod Adams, Bev Baker, Wendy Beard, Jason Beason, Ken Behrens, Lisa Belmonte, Brad Benter, Nancy Berry, Bob Bethel, Mike Blanck, Karen Burrell, Cameron Cox, Jeff Conner, Aaron Crawford, Bill Day, Dan Derbyshire, Beth Dillon, David Dittmer, Matthew Dufort, Doug Faulkner, Bob Frey, Michael Garrard, Peter Gent, Brian Gibbons, Glenn Giroir, Matt Gracey, Jeremy Greene, Craig Grother, Carolyn Gunn, Dave Hallock, Lauren Hall, John Hawkins, Mike Henwood, Sue Hirshman, Eric Koch, Paul Hurtado, Dave Khaliqi, Gwen Lee, Tony Leukering, Nick Lowe, Kalen Malueg, Josiah Malueg, Micah Malueg, Joshua Malueg, Monica Mellaci, Virginia Maynard, Jane McGarry, Patrick McEachern, Jason McLich, Mike Mechau, Skip Mottram, Ava Mullins, Bill Palmer, Arvind Panjabi, Kim Potter, Liz Roberts, David Rubenstein, Chris Schultz, Malene Shannon, Jeremy Siemers, Robert Skorkowsky, Paul Slingsby, Brett Smithers, John Sovell, Rob Sparks, John Stanek, Chuck Reichart, Alan Versaw, and Walt Wilson. Among these, Ken Behrens, Jason Beason, and Caro- lyn Gunn merit recognition for the size of their contributions and unflagging enthusiasm—Ken and Jason as seasonal field techs and Carolyn as an occasional tech but mostly as a volunteer. A legion of professional and amateur biologists shared information, insights, and leads to others sources. An archivist at the Smithsonian, whose name I have regrettably lost, provided a copy of Kennerly’s notes and his letter to Spencer Baird describing the type specimen collected at Semiahoo Bay. Peter Capainolo and Paul Sweet of the American Museum of Natural History and René Corado of the Western Foundation of Verte- brate Zoology, Santa Barbara Museum graciously supplied information on egg collections. Bob Altman pro- vided details about efforts to locate Black Swift nest sites along the Pacific coast from northern California to southeastern Alaska. He also provided leads to others in the region who volunteered information. These oth- ers included Gwen Baluss in Southeastern Alaska; Dick Cannings, Syd Cannings, Clive Keen, Doug Leighton, Paul Levesque, and Kirk Safford in British Columbia; Larry Schwitters and Theresa Stone in Washington; and Barbara Combs, Alan Contreras, Jeff Harding, Tom Mickel, Roger Robb, and Mark Smith in Oregon.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Aspects of Black Hole Physics
    Aspects of Black Hole Physics Andreas Vigand Pedersen The Niels Bohr Institute Academic Advisor: Niels Obers e-mail: [email protected] Abstract: This project examines some of the exact solutions to Einstein’s theory, the theory of linearized gravity, the Komar definition of mass and angular momentum in general relativity and some aspects of (four dimen- sional) black hole physics. The project assumes familiarity with the basics of general relativity and differential geometry, but is otherwise intended to be self contained. The project was written as a ”self-study project” under the supervision of Niels Obers in the summer of 2008. Contents Contents ..................................... 1 Contents ..................................... 1 Preface and acknowledgement ......................... 2 Units, conventions and notation ........................ 3 1 Stationary solutions to Einstein’s equation ............ 4 1.1 Introduction .............................. 4 1.2 The Schwarzschild solution ...................... 6 1.3 The Reissner-Nordstr¨om solution .................. 18 1.4 The Kerr solution ........................... 24 1.5 The Kerr-Newman solution ..................... 28 2 Mass, charge and angular momentum (stationary spacetimes) 30 2.1 Introduction .............................. 30 2.2 Linearized Gravity .......................... 30 2.3 The weak field approximation .................... 35 2.3.1 The effect of a mass distribution on spacetime ....... 37 2.3.2 The effect of a charged mass distribution on spacetime .. 39 2.3.3 The effect of a rotating mass distribution on spacetime .. 40 2.4 Conserved currents in general relativity ............... 43 2.4.1 Komar integrals ........................ 49 2.5 Energy conditions ........................... 53 3 Black holes ................................ 57 3.1 Introduction .............................. 57 3.2 Event horizons ............................ 57 3.2.1 The no-hair theorem and Hawking’s area theorem ....
    [Show full text]
  • CAT Vertebradosgt CDC CECON USAC 2019
    Catálogo de Autoridades Taxonómicas de vertebrados de Guatemala CDC-CECON-USAC 2019 Centro de Datos para la Conservación (CDC) Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (Cecon) Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala Este documento fue elaborado por el Centro de Datos para la Conservación (CDC) del Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (Cecon) de la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. Guatemala, 2019 Textos y edición: Manolo J. García. Zoólogo CDC Primera edición, 2019 Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (Cecon) de la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala ISBN: 978-9929-570-19-1 Cita sugerida: Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas [Cecon]. (2019). Catálogo de autoridades taxonómicas de vertebrados de Guatemala (Documento técnico). Guatemala: Centro de Datos para la Conservación [CDC], Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas [Cecon], Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala [Usac]. Índice 1. Presentación ............................................................................................ 4 2. Directrices generales para uso del CAT .............................................. 5 2.1 El grupo objetivo ..................................................................... 5 2.2 Categorías taxonómicas ......................................................... 5 2.3 Nombre de autoridades .......................................................... 5 2.4 Estatus taxonómico
    [Show full text]
  • Cali Types of the Common Swift Apus Apus: Aduit Cali Given at the Nest
    Avocetta W 17: 141-146 (1993) Cali types of the Common Swift Apus apus: aduIt cali given at the nest VrNCENT BRETAGNOLLE CEBC-CNRS,F-79360-Beauvoirsur Niort, France Abstract - Vocalizations of the Common Swifts were studi ed during two consecutive springs in southern France. I found that three cali types were given by the adults at the nest, and these are described quantitatively. Significant differences in the acoustic parameters of the calls are highlighted, as well as. a probable sexual dimorphism. This, together with the precise signification of the different cali types, rernam however to be critically assessed by playback experiments. Introduction France), where a large colony is easily accessible for field studies (for further details, see Gory, this Swifts (Order Apodiformes) are unusual among birds volume).A sample of 22 accessible nests was because many of their Iife history traits (i.e. longevity, selected, for which extensive data on breeding biology delayed maturity, large egg size) make them atypical and breeding success were also available dating from compared to similar-sized birds (Lack 1956, Gaillard 1978 (Gory et Jeantet 1986). The birds were tape et al. 1989), and convergent evolution of life histories recorded by Uher 4400 or Nagra IV at a speed of 19.5 with, e.g., long lived seabirds such as cmJs, on Agfa PE43 tapes, and with a Seinnheiser Procellariiformes, have been suggested repeatedly omnidirectional microphone MD421 placed within, or (e.g. Lack and Lack 1951, Malacarne et al. 1991). at the entrance of, the nesting cavity. Calls were Although investigations have been carried out on the analysed on a Real Time Spectrograph, which Common Swift Apus apus with regard to demography performs a fast Fourier transform (Richard 1991) at a (Lack 1956, Perrins 1971, Lebreton et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Legal "Black Hole"? Extraterritorial State Action and International Treaty Law on Civil and Political Rights
    Michigan Journal of International Law Volume 26 Issue 3 2005 Legal "Black Hole"? Extraterritorial State Action and International Treaty Law on Civil and Political Rights Ralph Wilde University of London Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjil Part of the Human Rights Law Commons, Military, War, and Peace Commons, and the National Security Law Commons Recommended Citation Ralph Wilde, Legal "Black Hole"? Extraterritorial State Action and International Treaty Law on Civil and Political Rights, 26 MICH. J. INT'L L. 739 (2005). Available at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjil/vol26/iss3/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Michigan Journal of International Law at University of Michigan Law School Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Michigan Journal of International Law by an authorized editor of University of Michigan Law School Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LEGAL "BLACK HOLE"? EXTRATERRITORIAL STATE ACTION AND INTERNATIONAL TREATY LAW ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTSt Ralph Wilde* I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 740 II. EXTRATERRITORIAL STATE ACTIVITIES ................................... 741 III. THE NEED FOR GREATER SCRUTINY ........................................ 752 A. Ignoring ExtraterritorialActivity ...................................... 753 B. GreaterRisks of Rights Violations in the ExtraterritorialContext ....................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Album Pg Page Heading Description Date Object Type
    Area Album Pg Page Heading Description Date Object Type 1 1 South Toutle Pack Trip Origin of the South Fork Toutle River (Wash.) on side Mt. St. Helens; 1941 Silver gelatin prints upper drainage basin at base of Mt. St. Helens; 1941-05-21 1 1 South Toutle Pack Trip Origin of South Fork Toutle River (Wash.) on side Mr. St. Helens; 1941 Silver gelatin prints part of watershed on side of Mt. St. Helens; 1941-05-21 1 1 South Toutle Pack Trip South Fork Toutle; upper watershed of South Fork at base of Mt. St. 1941 Silver gelatin prints Helens; 1941-05-21 1 1 South Toutle Pack Trip South Toutle outwash plain at base of Mt. St. Helens; outwash plain 1941 Silver gelatin prints 200 yards wide along upper south Fork. The north branch of the river can be seen at the left of the picture; 1941-05-21 1 2 South Toutle Pack Trip Bryant at South Toutle shelter; South Fork Toutle; Bryant at South 1941 Silver gelatin prints Toutle Shelter; the first nights stopping place on the pack trip; 1941-05-41 1 2 South Toutle Pack Trip South Fork Toutle; Part of channel of North Branch in broad out wash 1941 Silver gelatin prints plain near Mount Saint Helens; 1941-05-22 1 2 South Toutle Pack Trip Bear Creek trib. South Fork Toutle; Impassable 10' falls 1/4 mile 1941 Silver gelatin prints above mouth; 1941-05-24 1 2 South Toutle Pack Trip South Fork Toutle; Good 2nd growth of Douglas fir around Silver Lake 1941 Silver gelatin prints (Wash.); 1941-06-02 1 3 South Toutle Pack Trip Green River trib.
    [Show full text]
  • Records Committee Report
    138 Florida Field Naturalist 28(3):138-160, 2000. RECORDS COMMITTEE REPORT Thirteenth Report of the Florida Ornithological Society Records Commit- tee: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000.—The Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee (FOSRC) critically reviews all written sight reports and specimens and/or photographic records (including audio recordings) submitted to it to determine the validity of the reports. The Committee’s findings are published periodically in the Flor- ida Field Naturalist (FFN). Of the 65 reports received and logged in 1996 through June 2000, 6 were not reviewed for various reasons discussed subsequently, 1 was withdrawn, and 4 are still under consideration: Cassin’s Kingbird, Tyrannus vociferans (97-375); Thayer’s Gull, Larus thayeri (99-389); Tropical Kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus (00- 402); and Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus (00-410). The committee considered 7 reports submitted prior to 1996. Of these, 1 was not reviewed. Thus of the 60 reports resolved, 36 (60%) were accepted and 24 (40%) were not accepted. Since 1996, 13 species were added to the official FOSRC list of accepted Florida spe- cies. In addition, Rufous-sided Towhee was split into Eastern Towhee and Spotted Towhee, both verified from Florida, and Sharp-tailed Sparrow was split into Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow and Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, also both verified from Flor- ida, bringing the total to 480 species (see R&W 1992, FFN 23:38-43, FFN 24:122-134) (Appendix 1). Since the publication of Robertson and Woolfenden (1992), hereafter
    [Show full text]
  • Our Tuesday and Thursday Series of Day Hikes and Rambles, Most Within Two Hours of Lake Oswego
    Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation Hikes and Rambles Spring/Summer 2015 Calendar of Hikes/Rambles/Walks Welcome to our Tuesday and Thursday series of day hikes and rambles, most within two hours of Lake Oswego. Information is also available at LO Park & Rec Activities Catalog . To recieve weekly News email send your request to [email protected]. Hikes are for hikers of intermediate ability. Hiking distance is usually between 6 - 10 miles, and usually with an elevation gain/loss between 800 - 2000 ft. Longer hikes, greater elevation gains or unusual trail conditions will be noted in the hike description. Hikes leave at 8:00 a.m., unless otherwise indicated. Rambles are typically shorter, less rugged, and more leisurely paced -- perfect for beginners. Outings are usually 5-7 miles with comfortable elevation gains and good trail conditions. Leaves promptly at 8:30a unless otherwise noted. Meeting Places All hikes and rambles leave from the City of Lake Oswego West End Building (WEB), 4101 Kruse Way, Lake Oswego. Park in the lower parking lot (behind the building) off of Kruse Way. Individual hike or ramble descriptions may include second pickup times and places. (See included places table.) for legend. All mileages indicated are roundtrip. Second Meeting Places Code Meeting Place AWHD Airport Way Home Depot, Exit 24-B off I-205, SW corner of parking lot CFM Clackamas Fred Meyer, Exit 12-A off I-205, north lot near Elmer's End of the Oregon Trail Interpretative Center, Exit 10 off I-205, right on Washington Street to EOT parking lot by covered wagons Jantzen Beach Target,Exit 308 off I-5, left on N Hayden Island, left on N Parker, SE corner JBT Target parking lot L&C Lewis and Clark State Park.
    [Show full text]
  • Trip Details
    Cuba’s Western Mountains, Zapata Peninsula, Northern Archipelago, Escambray Valley and Havana Spring Migration Cuba Bird Survey November 9 – 18/19, 2018 You are invited on an exclusive, U.S. led and managed birding program to Cuba! The program is managed by the Caribbean Conservation Trust, Inc. (CCT), which is based in Connecticut. In early 2018 CCT staff began their 22nd year of managing bird conservation and natural history programs in Cuba. Along with CCT Ornithologist Michael Good, our team will include award -winning Cuban artist, author, and naturalist Nils Navarro, a bilingual Cuban tour leader and local naturalists in 4 different birding regions. They will guide you through some of the best bird habitat in Cuba, the Caribbean’s largest and most ecologically diverse island nation. CCT designed this itinerary to take you to Cuba’s finest bird habitats, most beautiful national parks, diverse biosphere reserves, and unique natural areas. We will interact with local scientists and naturalists who work in research and conservation. In addition to birding, we will learn about the ecology and history of regions we visit. Finally, and especially given the ongoing changes in U.S. – Cuban relations, we can expect some degree of inquiry into fascinating aspects of Cuban culture, history, and daily living during our visit. Cuba’s Birds According to BirdLife International, which has designated 28 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Cuba, “Over 370 bird species have been recorded in Cuba, including 27 which are endemic to the island and 29 considered globally threatened. Due to it’s large land area and geographical position within the Caribbean, Cuba represents one of the most important countries for Neotropical migratory birds – both birds passing through on their way south (75 species) and those spending the winter on the island (86 species).“ Our itinerary provides opportunities to see many of Cuba’s endemic species and subspecies, as listed below.
    [Show full text]
  • Discovery of the First Black Swift Nest
    Discoveryof the FirstBlack Swift Nest John Farrand, Jr. describethe nest and eggsof the BlackSKANY Swift,COMPETENT and you'll BIRDER be toldto that this largest of North American swiftsplaces a small cup of moss and other plant material on a sheltered ledge near a waterfall, on a sea cliff. or in some other moist but inaccessi- ble spot, and that there is a single white egg. These basic facts are common knowledge.You can find them in Ar- thur Cleveland Bent's "Life Histo- ries," in John K. Terres's Audubon SocietyEncyclopedia of North Amer- ican Birds, and in field guides, man- uals, and regionalbird books.But put- ting them on recordwas far from easy. Had you asked the same competent birder the samequestion 80 yearsago, you would have received an equally The uncommonBlack Swift, at their nest.Photograph/ T.J. Ulrich/17REO (u02/1/021). quick answer. It would have been quite different, and quite wrong. cleft and disappeared.Peering into the thrasher that bears his name, had re- The Black Swift is not a common crevice, Vrooman saw a single white ported a colony of Black Swifts nest- or widespreadbird. It was discovered egg in a small, damp depressionbe- ing on a high cliff on the upper Co- more then two centuries ago in the hind a tuft of grass.Not certain that lumbia River, not on the coast. But West Indies, but the first North Amer- the bird had finished laying, he left becausethe colony was inaccessible, ican birds were not found until the the nest undisturbed.
    [Show full text]
  • Diet of Breeding White-Throated and Black Swifts in Southern California
    DIET OF BREEDING WHITE-THROATED AND BLACK SWIFTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ALLISON D. RUDALEVIGE, DESSlE L. A. UNDERWOOD, and CHARLES T. COLLINS, Department of BiologicalSciences, California State University,Long Beach, California 90840 (current addressof Rudalevige:Biology Department, Universityof California,Riverside, California 92521) ABSTRACT: We analyzed the diet of nestling White-throated(Aeronautes saxatalis) and Black Swifts (Cypseloidesniger) in southern California. White- throatedSwifts fed their nestlingson bolusesof insectsmore taxonomicallydiverse, on average(over 50 arthropodfamilies represented), than did BlackSwifts (seven arthropodfamilies, primarfiy ants). In some casesWhite-throated Swift boluses containedprimarily one species,while other bolusesshowed more variation.In contrast,all BlackSwift samplescontained high numbersof wingedants with few individualsof other taxa. Our resultsprovide new informationon the White-throated Swift'sdiet and supportprevious studies of the BlackSwift. Swiftsare amongthe mostaerial of birds,spending most of the day on the wing in searchof their arthropodprey. Food itemsinclude a wide array of insectsand some ballooningspiders, all gatheredaloft in the air column (Lack and Owen 1955). The food habitsof a numberof speciesof swifts have been recorded(Collins 1968, Hespenheide1975, Lack and Owen 1955, Marfn 1999, Tarburton 1986, 1993), but there is stilllittle informa- tion availablefor others, even for some speciesthat are widespreadand common.Here we providedata on the prey sizeand compositionof food broughtto nestlingsof the White-throated(Aerona u tes saxa talis) and Black (Cypseloidesniger) Swifts in southernCalifornia. The White-throatedSwift is a commonresident that nestswidely in southernCalifornia, while the Black Swift is a local summerresident, migrating south in late August (Garrettand Dunn 1981, Foersterand Collins 1990). METHODS When feedingyoung, swifts of the subfamiliesApodinae and Chaeturinae return to the nest with a bolusof food in their mouths(Collins 1998).
    [Show full text]
  • Fastest Migration Highest
    GO!” Everyone knows birds can fly. ET’S But not everyone knows that “L certain birds are really, really good at it. Meet a few of these champions of the skies. Flying Acby Ellen eLambeth; art sby Dave Clegg! Highest You don’t have to be a lightweight to fly high. Just look at a Ruppell’s griffon vulture (left). One was recorded flying at an altitude of 36,000 feet. That’s as high as passenger planes fly! In fact, it’s so high that you would pass out from lack of oxygen if you weren’t inside a plane. How does the vulture manage? It has Fastest (on the level) Swifts are birds that have that name for good special blood cells that make a small amount reason: They’re speedy! The swiftest bird using its own of oxygen go a long way. flapping-wing power is the common swift of Europe, Asia, and Africa (below). It’s been clocked at nearly 70 miles per hour. That’s the speed limit for cars on some highways. Vroom-vroom! Fastest (in a dive) Fastest Migration With gravity helping out, a bird can pick up extra speed. Imagine taking a trip of about 4,200 And no bird can go faster than a peregrine falcon in a dive miles. Sure, you could easily do it in an airplane. after prey (right). In fact, no other animal on Earth can go as But a great snipe (right) did it on the wing in just fast as a peregrine: more than 200 miles per hour! three and a half days! That means it averaged about 60 miles The prey, by the way, is usually another bird, per hour during its migration between northern which the peregrine strikes in mid-air with its balled-up Europe and central Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • Peru: from the Cusco Andes to the Manu
    The critically endangered Royal Cinclodes - our bird-of-the-trip (all photos taken on this tour by Pete Morris) PERU: FROM THE CUSCO ANDES TO THE MANU 26 JULY – 12 AUGUST 2017 LEADERS: PETE MORRIS and GUNNAR ENGBLOM This brand new itinerary really was a tour of two halves! For the frst half of the tour we really were up on the roof of the world, exploring the Andes that surround Cusco up to altitudes in excess of 4000m. Cold clear air and fantastic snow-clad peaks were the order of the day here as we went about our task of seeking out a number of scarce, localized and seldom-seen endemics. For the second half of the tour we plunged down off of the mountains and took the long snaking Manu Road, right down to the Amazon basin. Here we traded the mountainous peaks for vistas of forest that stretched as far as the eye could see in one of the planet’s most diverse regions. Here, the temperatures rose in line with our ever growing list of sightings! In all, we amassed a grand total of 537 species of birds, including 36 which provided audio encounters only! As we all know though, it’s not necessarily the shear number of species that counts, but more the quality, and we found many high quality species. New species for the Birdquest life list included Apurimac Spinetail, Vilcabamba Thistletail, Am- pay (still to be described) and Vilcabamba Tapaculos and Apurimac Brushfnch, whilst other montane goodies included the stunning Bearded Mountaineer, White-tufted Sunbeam the critically endangered Royal Cinclodes, 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Peru: From the Cusco Andes to The Manu 2017 www.birdquest-tours.com These wonderful Blue-headed Macaws were a brilliant highlight near to Atalaya.
    [Show full text]