[ValleyNature] chimney swifts May 24/10 & summary to date

[James W. Wolford]

Robie Tufts Nature Centre in Wolfville at dusk: 21 chimney swifts  
counted as they dropped into the chimney.  Watching was from 8:35 to  
9:20 p.m. (Sunset 8:44) but entry times were not recorded (my fault  
as they ran out of posted paper).  Weather: becoming overcast, and  
windy.  Observers were Lauren Park, Megan Thibeault, & Tony Napoli.

Cheryl Rutledge reports she counted only 18 chimneys swifts entering  
her old farmhouse chimney at dusk at Upper Falmouth.  I consoled her  
with the "fact" that at this time of year when the swifts are  
migrating northward, we expect the numbers from night to night in any  
location to bounce up and down fairly wildly, before they settle down  
to summer residents, both nesters and yearling non-nesters, after  
about June 10 or so.  Hence the importance at each site of getting  
lots of counts.

For each "count" attempt, hoped-for data include the time-span spent  
in watching, Sunset time from Chronicle Herald or elsewhere, span of  
entry times as well as when most entered, a few words about weather,  
names of observers, and any other relevant info' like other sightings  
etc.

2010 CHIMNEY SWIFTS SUMMARY

May 1/10 - 0 - Robie Tufts Nature Centre (RTNC), Wolfville  
-              Jim Wolford
May 4/10 - 5+ - RTNC, Wolfville -                                   
Harold Forsyth, Jim Wolford
May 4/10 - some heard (guess perhaps 25??) - Middleton -            
Claire Diggins
May 5/10 - 44 - New Glasgow, Temperance St. School -                   
Ken McKenna
May 6/10 - 115 - Middleton Reg. High School  
-                                     Wayne Neily
May 8/10 - 100+ - New Glasgow, Temperance St. School -            
Elizabeth Doull
May 8/10 - 5 - seen along Butler Rd., sw. of Kentville  
-                      Rick Whitman
May 9/10 - 50+ - Wolfville, RTNC  
-                                      Jean & Stephanie Timpa
May 13/10 - 50+ - Wolfville, RTNC -                                  
Wendy Elliott, Jim Wolford
May 17/10 - 52 - Wolfville, RTNC  
-                                           Brenda & Bill Thexton
May 17/10 - 386 - New Glasgow, Temperance St. School -              
Ken McKenna
May 18/10 - zero - Wolfville, University Hall  
-                                          Jim Wolford
May 20/10 - 65+ - Wolfville, RTNC -                          Pat  
Hawes, Jim Wolford, et al.
May 20/10 - 139 - McGowan Lake, Queen's County -                    
Brad Toms et al.
May 21/10 - zero - N.S. Agric. College, Bible Hill  
-                     Linda & Ross Hall
May 22/10 - 108 - Upper Falmouth farmhouse -    John Belbin, Cheryl  
Rutledge
May 22/10 - 65+ - Wolfville, RTNC  
-                                            Gisela Westphalen
May 23/10 - 40+ - Wolfville, RTNC -                        ? & Ralph  
Winter, Jim Wolford
May 24/10 - 21 - Wolfville, RTNC - Lauren Park, Megan Thibeault, Tony  
Napoli
May 24/10 - 18 - Upper Falmouth farmhouse  
-                             Cheryl Rutledge

Cheers from Jim in Wolfville
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