Migrating Vaux's swifts have arrived

The Vaux's swifts that come down the coast from Alaska every fall are roosting again in the chimney of the Chester Williams Building at 5th and Broadway. The Los Angeles Audubon Society and the Audubon Center at Debs Park are throwing two viewing parties on the top level of the Joe's Parking structure at 440 South Broadway. The events are Fridays Sept. 23 and 30, just before sunset. "We don't know how long they will be here, but past history indicates from mid-September to early October in the fall," the groups say. Smart advice from experienced birders: don't park on the exposed top level of the parking structure, and wear a hat. Here's a feature at SoCalWild.com, and an entry from Los Angeles today at West Coast Swifts, a site that follows the migration:

At 6:15 p.m. Wednesday September 14th LARGE flock of many hundreds of Vaux’s Swifts spread out along at least a half mile of train track and the L.A. River, starting from Union Station, proper. Am on the train, so unable to scan the flock for Chimney Swift(s)…

Video from last September on Broadway:

Martha Benedict photo from April 2010