chimney swift

,

Who's That Singing? Chimney Swift

,
Who's That Singing? Chimney Swift

Early September is a fabulous time to listen for Chimney Swifts, as they are migrating in full force from the US (including Wisconsin) to the Amazon basin in South America. During this time, Chimney Swifts will form big flocks at sunset through dusk, swirling around in a tornado of birds above a big chimney. Eventually they drop in and cling to the inside of the chimney, where they sleep for the night. It’s an amazing sight to behold, and full of the most adorable Chimney Swift twittering noises you can imagine! It’s so fun to watch, events called Swift Night Out are held around the country, including in Wisconsin.

Photo by Brenna Marsicek/SoWBA

Swift Night Out 2025 will feature *4 special guests*

This year, Swift Night Out will be held on Saturday, September 6, 6-8PM. The location, as always, is to be determined by the swifts as they choose which chimney they prefer to roost in this migration season. Each year the event is a little bit different, and this year, we are thrilled to partner with Dane County Humane Society’s Wildlife Center to release back into the wild four healthy Chimney Swifts they have rehabilitated! Read more about this effort below, and join us on Sept. 6!

Photo by Sandy Schwab

,

Mother Birds

,

A house wren mom has won my heart this spring and summer. The wren couple occupied a wren house set in my apricot tree this spring. For weeks now, Mom has called and hunted through the front yard, ceaselessly bringing one bug after another to the babes. She'll perch, bug in beak, and call to the young ones, and feed them when they reply. Sometimes the bugs are large and visible, other times much smaller (I'm always hoping the real small ones are ticks). She never stops, and ranges from the ground beneath some bushes to 30 feet up a dying birch, which should be full of bugs, and every level in-between.

Photo by Kelly Colgan Azar

DNR News Release: Survey Seeks to Identify Chimneys Providing Swift Habitat

One of Madison Audubon’s most popular fall field trips is A Swift Night Out. This nation-wide field trip/citizen science event invites community members to bring their lawnchairs and binoculars, and join in on counting chimney swifts coming into popular roosting sites (chimneys). Sandy Schwab of the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group leads the event, teaching attendees about these amazing birds and how they can help reverse this species’ downward population trend.

Now, the WDNR is looking for information about where chimney swifts may be nesting. Below is the press release with more information. The more we know about the locations where chimney swifts are roosting and nesting, the better the prospects are for conserving this great species.

Photo by Nancy J. Nabak