[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by Bob Kelley on 16:51:20 06/03/06
In Reply to: Swifts in Miami-Dade County posted by Bob Kelley
Check the link to the Florida Breeding Bird Atlas
on the TAS website. The FBBA was done 25+ years ago, and it shows some breeding in Miami-Dade County. The species description is also excellent(click on any of the locations). Roger Tory Peterson called them "flying cigars", and their flight pattern is distinctive.
Five years or so I was on my way down Old Cutler Road to the Charles Deering Estate when I noticed a chimney swift flying parallel to my car about three feet off the ground(that was certainly a surprise) about 6 feet from the driver's side door. It had no trouble keeping up with me so I increased my speed to 45 miles per hour. The bird
had no problems keeping up and after about 3 minutes it increased its speed and flew away.
Look for the "alternating" beat of the slightly curved scimitar(sp?) shaped wings and listen for the distinctive twittering sound that they make.
Good luck.
[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TAS BirdBoard ] [ FAQ ]