Comments:
Well this was a tough quiz this month. For one thing there isn’t a
field guide to look up calls in easily – if you aren’t sure you have
to listen to every call until you hear one similar. Most Utah birders
have seen this bird and could easily ID it, but some “good” birders
may not have ever heard it before - or at least not very often. The
answer is White throated Swift. Swifts nest in cliffs and crags
throughout the state. They are actually quite vocal when nesting, but
most of us aren’t around their nesting areas enough to get to know the
call well. In the spring and summer they can be heard easily around
the red-rock country of Southern Utah and somewhat locally around
cliffs of the Wasatch Front or other mountain areas.
Many people commented on the background birds as well for bonus
points. Several people pointed out the Western Tanager, Mourning Dove,
and a couple could pick out a Hermit Thrush. Apparently there are a
few other species calling as well, but they may not be audible unless
you have some top end speakers for your computer (if you can’t hear
them always blame the computer!).
Thanks again to Kevin Colver for providing the quiz for us. Kevin made
this recording at a colony near Levan in Juab County, where he
apparently “risked life and limb to get a microphone up to this
colony”.
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