Balitmore Bird Club, Chimney Swift Trip
In Hampden, September 19, 2004.

The Mill Center, between 7:11 and 7:38 PM, counted 3,970 swifts.
The Bookbindery, between 7:14 and 7:32 PM, counted 290 swifts.

At dusk, chimney swifts pour into these chimneys in Hampden, in Baltimore
City. In September 2001- 2003 our Hampden Chimney Swift counts for Swift Night
Out ranked either 2nd or 3rd in the nation according the Swift Night Out website
of the Driftwood Wildlife Association in Texas. (See www.chimneyswifts.org).

This year's (2004) Swift Night Out count on September 10 was filmed by MPT
for a future "Maryland Outdoors" 8-minute segment. (Date to view not yet
determined.) So far, as of 9-23, our September 10, 2004 count of 2,723 is the highest
count listed, nation-wide.

Go on your own to these Hampden chimneys anytime in Sept. or October and
until the first frost. Arrive a half hour before sunset, and stay until a half
hour after sunset. Note: Swifts enter a bit earlier on cool or cloudy days.

For more information about Baltimore Bird Club's (BBC's) SwiftWatch see our
newsletter articles dated December 2001, 2002 and 2003 at:
www.BaltimoreBirdClub.org

For directions to the chimney....go to Sept. 19, 2004 on BBC's Trip Schedule
at: www.baltimorebirdclub.org/schedule.html

Carol Schreter, Baltimore, MD