Fork-tailed Swifts at Lakes Entrance (Victoria)

An interesting sighting of swifts in Victoria.

Date: 12 March 2006
Time: approximately 1200hrs local time
Location: over the primary dune at Lakes Entrance in the Gippsland Lakes, Victoria
Ref: 147 deg 58 min 55 sec, 37 deg 53 min 30 sec or UTM 0586799, 5806550 (GPS reference using GDA datum)
Species: Fork-tailed Swift, about 20 birds
Observers: Greg Hatt, Kaye Trainor and Martin O'Brien
Conditions: clear and sunny, warm to very warm, humid (local light rain within 48 hours)

Comment:
While walking along the sandy track to the Entrance Light in the Lake Tyers Coastal Reserve we picked up a group of swifts swooping at relatively low speed just above tree (mature Coastal Banksia) height.  This is the lowest I've ever recorded the species in Victoria (less than 20m above sea level).  They were foraging with Welcome Swallows.

It has been several years since any swifts have been recorded in this part of Victoria.  The Atlas of Victorian Wildlife data suggests March is the peak time for records of the species visiting Victoria.

The swifts white rump and tapering tail feathers could be clearly seen as the birds passed not far above our heads.

Martin O'Brien
Threatened Species & Communities Section
Department of Sustainability and Environment
2/8 Nicholson St. (PO Box 500), East Melbourne  3002

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~