Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-06-07
The Cnimney swift.

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by Mabel r. Gilbert Pearson. Published BY
the National Association OF Audi bon soci-
eties.l
One late summers evening, after the sun
went down, there were observed flying
above the tree-tops Of North Carolina
village . large number OF black objects
some one said they were bats, while
others pronounced them swallows, but
they we're neither. The swarm OF dusky
forms swinging rapidly about the sky was
= flock OF chimney swifts. They seemed
to be more numerous in the neighborhood
of large college building. Presently they
began circling in one rushing, revolving.
twittering mass OF bird life. One side OF
this living wheel passed directly over the
large chimney which leads downward to
the furnace in the basement.
Suddenly, during these last moments Of
twilight before the darkness falls, one OF
the swiits threw up its wings and dropped
out OF sight in the chimney. Soon an
other did the same, then another and an
other. They went in by pairs, By tours,
almost by dozens. The wheel continued
to revolve while . stream of birds, as IL
thrown of by kind OF centrifugal force,
went pouring down into the gaping
mouth OF darkness.
We stood and counted as best we could
the numbers in this cataract OF fcathercd
life. Not for one moment was the scene
changed until the play was at an end.
- ar, a
and Twenty-Five answered tba gentle
man with me, who had probably counted
more correctly. Five or six birds which
had hesitated to the last moment to take
the plunge, and now possibly missing the
moral support OF the large company, gave
up the idea Of stopping there that night
and, turning, few away in the falling
darkness. Night closed in upon the great
chimney, with its sooty walls lined with
an army Of clinging, drowsy swif.s; for
this was the huge bedroom Of these little
piccaninnies Of the air.
1t was NOW seventeen minutes past
seven o'clock. Less than twenty minutes
had been required for the fiock to enter.
since early morning, each bird had been
upon the wing, roaming the endless path
ways OF the air in quest Of insect food. It
Is possible that not once during the day
had one paused to rest, a. the swift never
trusts the weight Of its body to its weak
feet except at such times as when, In the
hollow breast OF = great tree, or down the
yawning throat of chimney, it can cling
pcrpendicularly to the wall, braced from
below with its tail, each feather OF which
ends in stifi, needie-like outgrowth.
In the early morning we fastened out to
see II the swifts were up and away. Over
the rim of the chimney we found them
coming, singly, by twos, by threcs, by
fours; making long sweeps toward the
earth with the first bound; then mount
ing high in air with innumerable twitter-
ings, they would be of for the days ex-
pericnces. At Ave minutes OF six o'clock
they ceased to appear. More than eight
hundred had been counted within fifteen
minutes. Something unexpected now
happened. Back into the chimney came
rushing the swifts. In ten minutes li6
had re-entered. What could it meany Up
from the east q dark, threatening cloud
was moving. The swifts had espied 1t,
and all those which by this time were not
far afield came hurrying back to the Chin
ney OF refuge.
For many evenings we watched the
birds. They always went to roost the
same way, going through the same per-
formances. For. more than two weeks
ho x.r,th n,a A..
the middle OF September, we saw from our
window that the maple trees over on the
hillside were turning yellow and red.
Autumn has come" said my friend.
Perhaps the swifts saw the sign, too, and
passed the word that the summer had
ended and the air would soon be free OF
insects.
That evening, at the hour OF gathering
about the chimney, less than one hundred
appeared. The great flock had taken up
its line OF flight and was now far on its
course toward the land of perpetual sum.
mer. The others fingered for some time,
gathering in stragglers, and also those
families the young OF which had been slow
in getting upon the wing; and then, one
day, they, too, were OF to join their fell
lows in the far South.
We shall see no more Of the swifts until
some day next spring, when we may hear
falling to us from the air above joyous
twittering, and, looking up, may catch .
view Of the first arrival, black, animated
bow-and-arrow-shaped object darling
about at such height that it seems to be
its back against the sky.
The birds usually reach Us in April, and
within few weeks nest building begins.
The structure consists Of bracket work Of
dead twigs, glued together somewhat in
the form Of half saucer. 1t may be found