Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.
As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”
I measure out the seasons in Chimney Swift sightings.
Last Friday around 5:40 pm, a dozen or more, probably more (it’s hard to count ’em when they harum-scarum the sky), were over the park and surrounding blocks. It might have been the last big hurrah of the year.
As an aerodynamic design the Chimney Swift is a marvel unmatched by human attempts. These aerial gymnasts can maneuver with a skill that makes any aircraft, or gymnast for that matter, look clumsy and slow, yet they can soar and glide as if sitting still. And they do it all day on a child’s handful of areial bugs! Whence comes human pride in accomplishment?
Backyard and Beyond 
Leave a reply to Chuck McAlexander Cancel reply