Swift counting time at the chimney in the evenings, and peony hybridizing season going now during the day.
It's that time of year to get hooked back up with nature and the long term garden projects.
We don't get big numbers of swifts like these on our side of the mountains, but this short video should give you an idea of how they can be at places that do :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TT07lAdNaM
Me and a friend are the offical counters for a counting project that's happening on the west coast. Most nights it's just me down there. A great way to spend the dusk each evening, and get a stiff neck too.
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years ago, I was ambitious enough to imagine working on collective robotics that could mimic this. Biomimetics. Beautiful and ethereal, and currently ineffible.
I had gold-finches (I think that's what they were) swooping in and out of my workshop today. Juncos last winter? I put out a lot of feed for them and they loved it. Stellar's Bluejays were active here this spring. The neighboring property was logged, so I don't know if the owls will return.
I wish I could have seen flocking like this when I was in Eugene.