Salt Creek Falls, Oakridge, OR, USA - Birdwatching Locations on Waymarking.com

Copied from the sign at Salt Creek Falls viewpoint: “Black Swift (Cypseloides niger) Salt Creek Falls is one of a handful of nesting sites in Oregon for Black Swift, a unique and mysterious bird. Black Swifts nest at waterfalls, most often behind the veil of falling water through which they must fly to get to the nest. Their nest, tucked into a crevice on a moss-covered ledge, holds a single egg. Hatching in early to mid-July, the chick will remain in the nest for another month being fed by the adults only one or twice a day. The chick's safe location in the dark, damp, inccessible recesses of the cliff, and its relatively slow metabolism allow it to survive for long periods each day without attention or food. Adult Black Swifts spend their days high in the sky, often at the limit of human sight. Here, they hunt flying insects which they accumulate in their throat to regurgitate to their single chick. Identification of Black Swifts in flight can be a challenge. they are larger than the swallows that also forage in the sky above Salt Creek Falls; look for their long, relatively thin, scythe-shaped wings. They may travel as many as 50 miles away to forage each day, so the best time to see them at Salt Creek Falls is just before dark when they return to feed the chick and roost for the night.” ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Coped from this website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/wildlife/species/birds/nonperching-swift.shtml#black “Black Swift (Cypseloides niger) M RANGE: Breeds locally from southeastern Alaska, northwestern and central British Columbia, and southwestern Alberta south through the Pacific states and Mexico to Central America; also in northwestern Montana, Colorado, and central Utah. Winters in Mexico and Central America. STATUS: Rare or uncommon. HABITAT: Found in areas with rocky cliffs available for nesting, varying from ocean cliffs to mountain ledges, at elevations from sea level to 11,000 feet. SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Crevices or ledges on rocky cliffs for nesting, preferably near or behind a waterfall. In Oregon associates with large waterfalls. NEST: Nests in small colonies, from 5 to 15 pairs, on a sea cliff, ledge, or cave, or in a crevice or ledge on a sheer, high, moist cliff face near or behind a waterfall, or over a pool. FOOD: Feeds exclusively on insects captured, usually high in the air, during long-distance foraging flights over all types of terrain. It eats various flies, midges, beetles, termites, flying ants, aphids, bees, wasps, and some spiders. IN CENTRAL OREGON: Extremely rare in Central Oregon, though all but confirmed nesting at Salt Creek Falls, west side of Willamette Pass in Willamette National Forest. Handful of local records between mid-July and early September along Deschutes River Canyon likely post-breeding individuals. REFERENCES: Bailey and Niedrach 1965, Lack 1956, Terres 1980, Verner and Boss 1980.” <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Additional information regarding inventorying Black Swifts can also be found on this website: http://home.pacifier.com/~neawanna/BLSW/blsw_report.pdf (Inventoring Black Swift Populations at Waterfalls in the Northern Pacifiv Rainforest Bird Conservation Region

Park Name: Salt Creek Falls Sponsoring Organization: American Bird Conservatory, National Forest Foundation and Oregon Birding Trails Handicap Accessible?: Yes Website: [Web Link] List any Hides, Birding Towers, or other structures to assist in Birdwatching found at the location: There is an extensive paved trail, extensive fenced overlook area, as well as additional primitive trails. Entrance Fee: Not Listed Parking Coordinates: Not Listed

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