I should have mentioned that while yesterday's essay on the Common Swift in the New York Times magazine contains some very interestingfacts and studies about the European Common Swift, the author Helen MacDonald has written an essay that is more like a poem. It's anallegorical piece of how human society and individuals have something to learn from swifts. I found it a very touching piece of literature. Aside from the author's philosophizing, the author's descriptions are amazing of how Common Swift flocks rise above the clouds, up to 6000 feet,at twilight to presumably collectively judge weather fronts and then repeat their high flying reconnaissance at dawn. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/29/magazine/vesper-flights.html
Val Landwehr Minneapolis ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
