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John Berggy has decided that his
birds were Swiftlets NOT House Swifts and
after a study of Australian and overseas literature has concluded that they were
White-rumped Swiftlets. Firstly they were too small, (wingspan half that of
the Needletails) and the rump was pale not white. His field sketch shows a
rear-end shape like that of a Needletail with the notation "stubby wedgy
tail".
He returned to the site on 16
March when weather conditions were again suitable for Swifts but found no
Swiftlets or Needletails. Instead there were 100 Fork-tailed
Swifts.
The report will appear on an
Atlas sheet and will therefore be vetted by the Victorian Records Appraisal
Committee. If accepted it will be the first record for Victoria. I know of
no previous claims.
Peter Barrand has spent every
day except two since Xmas watching Needletails but no other Swifts, from a fire
tower 50 km from Nelson. One of those days was the day of John Berggy's
observation!
Mike
Carter
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