CHIMNEY SWIFTS—
First, in the early evening, you may notice a swift or two zooming, as they do, after a late snack of airborne insects.
Then, as approaching dusk paints the sky in ever darker shades of blue, one swift becomes a dozen and, they become an undulating flock flying a pattern of ever-changing geometric shapes above that chimney on Bellville’s Main St.
Their quiet twittering becomes part of the night’s symphony as they fly, seemingly faster and faster, until one, then two then many more of their near countless number disappear down the chimney.
The remaining airborne squadron explodes its shape then rejoins as if hearing their own choreography all the while contributing more and more birds to their growing roost deep in the chimney’s nocturnal protection.
Soon you notice the birds are very difficult to see as the ghostly flock thins until only silence and stillness shroud the entrance to their lair.
I had the pleasure of sharing this spectacle one recent evening with good friend Dick Stone of Bellville whose nature of deep sensitivity marveled at our very special moment.
Soon, the migratory instinct will compel these very birds to head south where they will over-winter on the Amazonian side of Peru’s Andes Mountains in South America.
First, in the early evening, you may notice a swift or two zooming, as they do, after a late snack of airborne insects.
Then, as approaching dusk paints the sky in ever darker shades of blue, one swift becomes a dozen and, they become an undulating flock flying a pattern of ever-changing geometric shapes above that chimney on Bellville’s Main St.
Their quiet twittering becomes part of the night’s symphony as they fly, seemingly faster and faster, until one, then two then many more of their near countless number disappear down the chimney.
The remaining airborne squadron explodes its shape then rejoins as if hearing their own choreography all the while contributing more and more birds to their growing roost deep in the chimney’s nocturnal protection.
Soon you notice the birds are very difficult to see as the ghostly flock thins until only silence and stillness shroud the entrance to their lair.
I had the pleasure of sharing this spectacle one recent evening with good friend Dick Stone of Bellville whose nature of deep sensitivity marveled at our very special moment.
Soon, the migratory instinct will compel these very birds to head south where they will over-winter on the Amazonian side of Peru’s Andes Mountains in South America.
Photography notes: In the larger image a slow shutter speed was used to enhance the feeling of motion and near ghost-like apparitions the birds become as darkness falls. In the smaller photo an auxiliary, electronic flash was used to freeze the birds in flight so more detail would be apparent.
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