| Common name: |
Black Swift |
 |
| Scientific name: | Cypseloides niger | |
| Date: | 6/25/2022 | |
| Time: | 8:30pm | |
| Length of time observed: | 30 minutes | |
| Number: | 2 | |
| Age: | adults | |
| Sex: | Male and female presumably | |
| Location: | Little Deer Creek falls | |
| County: | Duchesne | |
| Latilong: | 40.621706, -110.892621 | |
| Elevation: | 8,400ft | |
| Distance to bird: | 10m | |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x42 Binoculars | |
| Weather: | Partly cloudy, calm, 60F | |
| Light Conditions: | Poor, canyon in shade of late evening sun | |
| Description: Size of bird: | 7.5in | |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | streamlined | |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | all sooty blackish gray | |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | tiny | |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
It took me 10 years, but I finally located a BLACK SWIFT nest
at Little Deer Creek Falls, along the north fork of the Duchesne River in the
Uinta Mountains Utah. I discovered Black Swifts roosting at this waterfall in
2012, and have been periodically visiting it during the nesting season to try
and locate a nest, and particularly the past 3 years I've stepped up my efforts.
Saturday evening 6/25 myself and Max Malmquist climbed to a ledge overlooking the top of the falls just before sunset, so we could hopefully spot them fly in and see where they go. As we got in position, Max noticed a Swift clinging to the cliff directly across from the top of the falls, then we watched it climb up a few inches and its head disappear into a crevice, and then we noticed a lot of fluttering movement and sure enough there were 2 Swifts there, one on a nest interacting with the one clinging to the cliff. Shortly after this interaction, the 1st Swift flew off, revealing the other Swift sitting on a mud and vegetation cup nest in a crevice. The nest was extremely well hidden and had we not seen the 1st swift we likely would have missed it. We then watched this swift on the nest for another 1/2 hour, until it started to get dark, and although she would shuffle around a bit, she never left the nest. By this date they should be incubating so presumably that's what she was doing, although we never saw an egg because she never left the nest. The next morning we observed up to 4 Swifts flying around, so there could easily have been additional nests we didn't find. Although Black Swifts are seen near several waterfalls in Utah during the nesting season, as far as I know only one other nest has been found, on Stewart Falls near Sundance by Merrill Web. I can't find any photos of that nest anywhere, so as far as I can tell this is the only 2nd nest of this species observed in Utah, and the 1st with photos (and video). Photos here on the eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S113823091 |
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| Song or call & method of delivery: | None heard at nest, roar of waterfall prevented us from hearing anything. However the next morning when we observing them flying around, we did hear their fast twittering | |
| Behavior: | We had arrived at the waterfall around 7:20pm, intending to spend the night. At 7:53pm, we spotted the 1st Black Swift flying over the canyon east of the falls. Over the next 40 minutes, we would periodically see 2 swifts flying around, often together chasing each other, mainly over the canyon. Then they started to come in closer, directly above the falls so we commenced climbing the falls to be able to see the upper section of the falls and watch where they landed, this required some rock climbing and was a bit precarious at times, but we did it without incident. As we arrive on the ledge overlooking the top of the falls, Max spotted a swift clinging to the cliff opposite us about 10m away. We had not noticed any swifts fly in, but could have missed them when our attention was diverted rock climbing. This 1st swift then shuffled up the cliff a few inches, its head disappearing into a crevice, then we noticed some fluttering movement and saw there was another swift there most hidden. Shortly afterward the 1st swift flew off to the east, reveling a 2nd swift sitting on a mud and vegetation cup nest mostly hidden in the crevice. we then watched this swift on the nest for the next 1/2 hour, and although she would shuffle around a bit she never left the nest. At around 9:10 we saw 2 or 3 other swifts start flying around the head of the falls, one landing below us, but due to the darkening conditions we could not see exactly where the others roosted. We then climbed out, trying to do so before it got to dark to see. In the morning I awoke at 5am and went to the falls, no swifts were active yet, so we returned to the truck, then at 5:03am a swift shot out of the falls twittering frantically, almost hitting Max in the head! For the next hour and 40 minutes, until we left, we would periodically see groups of 2 to 4 flying around above the falls and canyon, often chasing each other, but we did not attempt to climb the falls and observe the nest again. | |
| Habitat: | Waterfall along the North Fork of the Duchesne River, mixed montane forest with cliffs and riparian | |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
White-throated Swift-has white on throat, belly and side of rump, longer narrower forked tail, smaller. They don't nest at waterfalls. | |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Yes, many | |
| References consulted: | memory | |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting | |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen | |
| Observer's address: | Address: 84102 | |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** | |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Max Malmquist was with me | |
| Date prepared: | 6/28/22 | |
| Additional material: | Photos | |
| Additional comments: |
eBird checklists:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S113823091 and https://ebird.org/checklist/S113822963 |
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