Sept 4 Report:Tonight we counted 215 Chimney Swifts as they went to roost in the old rice dryer in Dayton. This is way down from the 558 counted last week.

Previous Numbers:558 8/28), 400+ (8/14), 323 (8/9), 300+ (8/7), 231 (7/31), 236 (7/24), 226 (7/17), 203 (7/10), 192 (7/3),224 (6/26) 181 (6/19), 146 (6/12), 136 (6/5), 96 (5/29).

Background: We hope to count Chimney Swifts at the old American Rice Growers Association rice dryer in Dayton each Thursday and would welcome anyone who would like to join us. We meet at the northeast corner of Hwy 321 and FM 1960 in the bank parking lot. Bring binoculars, a lawn chair, and be prepared to count over 200 swifts as they dart into the rice dryer. They don't call them "swifts" for nothing.

--Barbara Tilton