Note: Location and Date Change!
New plan: Sunday, Sept. 17, 6:00-8:00 pm at Cherokee Heights Middle School (4301 Cherokee Dr., Madison)
Swift Night Out Social returns this September, and we are collaborating with fellow bird-loving organizations to make this even bigger and better! The BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, the Feminist Bird Club - Madison Chapter, Madison Audubon, and the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group are collaborating to host a community gathering that showcases the amazing phenomenon of hundreds of Chimney Swifts coming into roost for the night.
The date and location of the event have been changed to Sunday, September 17, 6:00-8:00 pm at Cherokee Heights Middle School (4301 Cherokee Dr, Madison). The reasons for the changes include:
Chimney Swift preferences: most years, the swifts reliably use the chimney at Blessed Sacrament Church. In the past week and a half, the number of swifts using the chimney at Blessed Sacrament has greatly reduced to nearly none. Instead, counts of swifts using the chimney at Cherokee Heights have been over 1,000 consistently.
School soccer field use: Cherokee Heights has a great open soccer field which we will use to sit down and enjoy the swift show. However, the school district has first dibs on soccer field use, and practice times conflict with our start time on Friday.
What are Chimney Swifts?
Chimney Swifts are small birds that spend most of their life on the wing! They nest in chimneys and are experiencing habitat decline as there are fewer places for them to nest and roost. You may see them twittering and fluttering above your neighborhood in the summer. At summer’s end, hundreds of Chimney Swifts gather and use brick chimneys for their nightly roost as they prepare for migration. A “Swift Night Out” is a continent-wide effort to raise awareness about Chimney Swifts and their need for roosting habitat.
Why should you come?
We hope this evening will be the perfect opportunity for members of our birding community to:
meet new people who love birds
socialize and get to know each other over a delicious slushy (optional for purchase; Kona Ice truck will be on site!)
and of course learn about Chimney Swifts, their unique roosting behaviors, and what we can do to protect them!
If you haven't visited a swift roost or participated in a Swift Night Out event before, you won't want to miss this. The spectacle of hundreds of Chimney Swifts pouring into the tall chimney is a sight to behold – as is the equally joyful spectacle of so many birders gathering to celebrate them!
What to expect
Bring a lawn chair and binoculars to observe and count swifts as they gather. Binoculars aren’t necessary to appreciate this spectacle, but we will have extras on hand.
New this year, we’ll have a local food cart there: Kona Ice, where you can purchase a tasty slushy treat.
Accessible parking will be available in the parking lot at 4301 Cherokee Dr. (right turn only into the parking lot; a median in the street prevents folks from turning left into the lot). This parking lot also includes limited additional general parking, first come first served.Once that lot is full, parking is available on surrounding residential streets. Plan ahead and be prepared to walk to the grassy area south of the school.
For those with mobility concerns, please be aware that access from the parking lot to the soccer field involves two short sets of stairs.
RSVP required?
Registration is optional, but highly recommended, especially since the time or location could change depending on the swifts! Sign up below to receive updates and reminders.
Accessibility Features:
Family friendly and beginning birders are welcome!
Accessible parking is available, and the chimney is visible from the parking lot. The grassy area is not readily accessible by wheelchair.
Minimal walking required
Header photo by Steve Benoit
