Chimney Swift

Chimney Swift

Chaetura pelagica

Size: 5"-6"

Habitat: anywhere

Notes:
These small songbirds get mentioned here only because they are so common around Dutch Springs. Look for their tail-less dark profiles and irregular, bat-like flight as they catch insects over the water. They probably nest in the abandoned factory nearby. Fork-tailed Barn Swallows are also common.


Percidae is the second largest family of fishes in North America, after Cyprinidae (Minnows). They are not related to saltwater Perches, which they superficially resemble.

Darter

Darters are diminutive perches that inhabit quiet or slowly flowing waters. They swim in hops and spurts, mainly just sitting on the bottom as they search for the small invertebrates on which they feed. The Tessellated Darter Etheostoma olmstedi ( right, to 4.5" ) is the commonest in the area. Many midwestern species are brightly colored, but we are not so lucky, all of ours are drab.

Printed from njscuba.net