Spine-tailed swifts

[Mike Tarburton <>]

Dear Graeme & interested Birding Ausers

I am not ready to make an accurate summary of the last years swift sightings, but from memory this season looks better for most observers than the two previous seasons.  It is clear that both needletails and forktails may break their use of an area that they have used for some years and so we cannot judge the total scene from one or two locations.  Because many observers had found fewer birds over the previous seasons I felt a significant decline might have been observed.  It has been encouraging to receive a greater number of sightings over the last season.

Thanks to all those who have sent me their sightings or posted them on the net.  Thanks to Graeme also for reporting a poor level of observation - not many do this.  (Do you have a date and numbers for that one sighting please?) A summary will be posted in a month or so.

Happy birding

Mike

-----
Assoc Prof Biology
Pacific Adventist University
PMB Boroko
Papua New Guinea

-----Original Message-----
From: Graeme Fraser
Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 8:08 AM
To:
Subject: [BIRDING-AUS] Spine-tailed swifts

Folks,

I live near Alstonville on the NSW north coast.  Swifts are normally a
regular summer migrant hereabouts.  This season I am disturbed that I have
seen them only once.  I don't think this is through spending less time
looking.  Most of my sightings are on the way to work.

Has anyone else noticed this deficiency?  Has anyone seen greater numbers
than usual?

graeme

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