With a total of 38 observations during the southbound migration, the Rainier, Ore Riverside Community Church chimney scored the third highest overall number of swifts (185,890), the second highest average count (4,892), and the second highest one-night count (17,889), compared to the 14 other major roost sites on the flyway. See this chart from Larry Schwitters on his website.
Congratulations, volunteers and supporters — a magnificent achievement for the birds and citizen science!
WHAS is actively monitoring the population of Vaux's Swifts by counting the birds as they enter their regular stopping places during the northbound migration in May and the southbound migration in September.
Check out this video (click on the image) taken on September 20 by Diane Yorgason-Quinn:
Don’t miss the show at Riverside Community Church, lower parking lot in Rainier, Oregon. The first birds entered the chimney around 7:30pm on September 20th.
As of now any young birder in school will be able to download the new version 7.7 of Thayer’s Birds of North America at NO COST. All others still need to buy the regular version. Thayer Birding Software founder, Peter W. Thayer, decided that this would be the perfect way to celebrate his 70th birthday.
You can get the software by using a Young Birder code, in our case use WillapaHillsAudubonYoungBirderwhere it asks for the promo code. Though be warned: The software package is huge, about 7.5GB and it will take a while to download depending on your internet connection.