Friday Feathered Feature

Chimney Swifts: 2026 Counts

Chimney Swifts: 2026 Counts

This year was one of the best years for watching Chimney Swifts come in to roost that I can remember. From late August until mid-September, swifts were using the big chimney at Cherokee Heights Middle School in huge numbers—as high as 2,100 on August 28!

photo: Caitlyn Schuchhardt

The Hummingbird–Cardinal Flower Connection

The Hummingbird–Cardinal Flower Connection

In mid and late summer, when cardinal flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) are blooming along stream banks, pond edges, and the edges of wetlands, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird’s affinity for these scarlet gems is on full display.

Photo by Gary Shackelford

Summer 2026 bird point count results: Goose Pond, Erstad Prairie, Otsego Marsh, and Hillside Prairie

I conducted similar point counts to learn what birds can be found on these properties to reflect how management decisions have affected bird populations and how we can make informed management decisions going forward.

Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

 
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