Cliff Swallow:
The Cliff Swallow, (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota), was first observed by John Reinhold Forster in 1772, and then named by Thomas Say from a specimen collected in 1820 on Long's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains. The name "cliff swallow" appeared 1823 in Edwin Jame's compilation of Long and Say's journals.
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"The cliff swallow is here very frequent, as well as in all the rocky country near the mountains. This species attaches its nest in great numbers to the rocks in dry situations, under projecting ledges. The nest is composed of mud, and is hemispherical, with the entrance near the top somewhat resembling a chymist's retort, flattened on one side, and with the neck broken off for the entrance. This entrance, which is perfectly rounded sometimes, projects a little and turns downward. It is an active bird, flying about the vicinity of the nest in every direction, like the barn swallow. In many of the nests we found young hatched, and in others only eggs."
Source:
Account of an expedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky mountains, performed in the years 1819, 1820, ... compiled from the notes of Major Long, Mr. T. Say, and other gentlemen of the party, by Edwin James ... vol.2, p.235-236, published in 1823.
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Vancouver Lake Lowlands, Vancouver, Washington ...
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Cliff Swallow, Vancouver Lake Lowlands, Vancouver, Washington.
Lower River Road.
Image taken August 22, 2009.
Canon EOS 40d, 400mm.
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Julia Butler Hansen NWR, Washington ...
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Cliff Swallow, Julia Butler Hansen NWR, Washington.
At Refuge Headquarters.
Image taken July 7, 2011.
Canon EOS 7d, 400mm.
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Cliff Swallows, Julia Butler Hansen NWR, Washington.
At Refuge Headquarters.
Image taken July 7, 2011.
Canon EOS 7d, 400mm.
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Click image to enlarge
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Cliff Swallows, Julia Butler Hansen NWR, Washington.
At Refuge Headquarters.
Image taken July 7, 2011.
Canon EOS 7d, 400mm.
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... "nest building is muddy work" ...
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Click image to enlarge
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Cliff Swallow, Julia Butler Hansen NWR, Washington.
At Refuge Headquarters.
Image taken July 7, 2011.
Canon EOS 7d, 400mm.
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Click image to enlarge
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Cliff Swallow, Julia Butler Hansen NWR, Washington.
At Refuge Headquarters.
Image taken July 7, 2011.
Canon EOS 7d, 400mm.
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"nest building is muddy work"
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Oneonta Bluffs, Oregon ... nests ...
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Cliff Swallows and nests, Oneonta Bluffs, Oregon.
Image taken July 5, 2009, Sony H50 "superzoom".
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Cliff Swallows and nests, Oneonta Bluffs, Oregon.
Image taken June 18, 2010, Canon Rebel T1i, 300mm.
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Cliff Swallow feeding youngsters, Oneonta Bluffs, Oregon.
Image taken July 1, 2011, Sony hx100v "superzoom".
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Cliff Swallow feeding youngster, Oneonta Bluffs, Oregon.
Image taken July 2, 2011.
Left image taken with Canon EOS 60d, 200z w/1.4.
Right image taken with Sony "superzoom" hx100v, reduced 33%.
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Ridgefield NWR, Washington ...
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