Return of the Knifebirds

Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica

  In Korea, the most common member of the Apodidae family is the Pacific Swift, known locally as ‘Kalsae’ – knifebird. Its Montreal counterpart is the Chimney Swift, known in French as ‘Martinet ramoneur’ – chimney sweeper swift. Knifebird sounds way more badass, so that is what I shall refer to them as, forevermore.
  My personal first-of-year Knifebirds were spotted today in NDG chittering high overhead, while I was sipping Maxim Korean instant coffee and reading a book about survival in Greenland. I guess I should have written "they were knifing high overhead."