Evening star., 1944-09-14
This and That
BY Charles Z. TrdcepeH.
"SUITLAND TERRACE. Sc


Dear Sir:
-Four of us were having dinner re-
Gently at an old restaurant just block
OH the Potomac waterfront.
We were eating outside in court
yard and enjoying the perfect evening
just before sundown.
Suddenly a great swarm Of birds
there must have been thousands-a little
distance from the courtyard attracted
our attention and that of the other
diners.
They circled and circled, all flying
in pretty much the same direction.
Then suddenly they would change direc-
tion and circle the other way.
They seemed to be small dark birds
OF amazing maneuverability in the air.
There were few chirps among them
but most seemed to be flying in silence
and thoroughly enjoying last spree of
flight before darkness should set in.
All the patrons of the restaurant
seemed absorbed in the show.
We asked our waiter where they
would perch for the night and he said
they had favorite old chimney near
'As we watched, their circle seemed
to be getting smaller and we decided to
go and try to find the chimney.
AT the rear of the restaurant we
found an alley and we walked only a
little way before we saw the chimney
where the birds were taking shelter
for the night.
1t was rather large brick chimney
In school house. A few would fly down
each time the flock circled One of our
party remarked that it looked like a
smoke in reverse, disappearing into the
chimney instead of rolling out.
FINALLY we saw the last bird drop
down into the chimney All had dis
appeared except two renegades who flew
on INTO the upper air perhaps eloping
to start new flock Of their own.
were those birds martins or perhaps
chimney swifts? And how do they man
age to exist without smothering When
literally thousands of them pack into
one chimney like that?
We wonder If they take shelter in
warm chimneys during the winter II
seems as If the smoke and heat would
harm them.
Thanks for your interesting column.
Sincerely, C. E. B."
The chimney swift is common sum-
mer resident and abundant migrant.
The birds come in early April, and usu-
ally leave by the middle of October
In the fall thousands of them use the
larger chimneys for roosting places.
Ihls column recently carried a letter
describing the nightly disappearance
down the chimney of large apartment
in Northwest Washington.
Nesting takes place in June.
Iooay 1t Is assumed that they pass
the winter somewhere in Northern South
America.
In the old days it was a great mystery
where they spent the cold months. =
They were traced as far as the coast
OF the Gulf Of Mexico, and there lost
to sight.
Even in books printed today we find
the following;
Did they drop into the water or
hibernate in the mud. as was believed
their obliteration could not be mos.
complete.
I'm the last week in March a joyful
twlttering far overhead announces their
return to the Gulf Coast, but their
hiding place during the intervening i've
months is still the swifts secret"
Originally the chimney swifts or swal-
lows nested in hollow trees, but were
swift tho pun intended) to take to mans
chimneys.
The way the birds can pack themselves
IN Is marvellous. There are four inner
surfaces to chimney, of course, and
each bird weighs but q few ounces, and
they perch side by side, as close as they
can get, which is pretty close, indeed.
Ten thousand has been estimated in
one large chimney.
Usually they leave before the heat 81
turned On.