The Swifts Will Be Migrating Soon!
Chimney Swifts in Wisconsin will be migrating soon (mid-August through October), creating quite a phenomenon at dusk at some roost chimneys. We would encourage everyone to get out to witness one of these events and help Chimney Swifts by doing a count and recording your findings in eBird.
Please join us for one or more of these 2024 SWIFT NIGHT OUT events.
Green Bay Area – Saturday, August 10. Contact Nancy Nabak at nnabak@sbcglobal.net or (920) 793-4007 for more information or if you want to monitor a chimney (if you’re new at this, you will be paired with a “pro”!
Viroqua – Saturday, August 10, 7:30 p.m. “Swift Night Out at the Vernon County Museum & History Center” at the corner of S. Main & E. South streets. Free. Presentation by swift expert Dr. Stefan Gleissberg of the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group, and local birder, Dave Krier, followed by hundreds of swifts streaming into the chimney starting about 8:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair. For more information: (608) 637-7396 or museum@vernoncountyhistory.org
Fond du Lac – Friday, Aug. 16 and Friday, Aug. 23 at Metal-Link, 196 Western Ave. (rain dates Saturday, Aug. 17; Saturday, Aug. 24) The best viewing is from the parking lot off Brooke St. around the corner. Come 60 minutes to 45 minutes before dusk. Note: the owner of the business said they counted 250 entering the chimney July 26. For more information, contact Laura DeGolier, Bird City Fond du Lac, (920) 948-8041, lpdx289@gmail.com.
Janesville – Sunday, August 25; Sunday, September 1. Sponsored by Bird City Janesville. (Check the Green-Rock Audubon Society events listing (https://www.greenrockaudubon.org/events) or contact Neil Deupree, past president, deupreen@charter.net, for details.
Wausau – Monday, Aug. 26, 7:00 p.m. Meet at the parking lot (on Grant St.) behind the old Graebel Building (720 N. 3rd St.). Culver’s & Custard to follow. All are welcome! For more info, contact Susan Haug, Wausau Bird Club, shaug12@gmail.com, (414) 232-8524
Lake Geneva – Thursday, Sept. 5. Geneva Lake Museum (255 Mill St.) Swift Night Out (a FREE educational program presented by the City of Lake Geneva Avian Committee). 5 p.m. food trucks open; 6 p.m. Schlitz Audubon Nature Center “Raptor and Friends” program; 7:15 p.m. until dark – Swifts begin their aerial displays. Please contact Sarah McConnell, SarahTmcc@gmail.com, for more information.
Madison – Saturday, Sept. 7 (rain date Sept. 8). Location to be determined (by the swifts!). Details will be posted at https://swibirds.org/all-events/2024/9/7/swift-night-out. The BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, the Feminist Bird Club – Madison Chapter, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, in partnership with the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group, are collaborating to host this community gathering.
Madison – “Swift Week”. The swift partnership will also be hosting a new event, “Swift Week”. Each Swift Week get-together will start around 6:00 p.m., with the location determined that day, so sign up to get email updates (Brenna Marsicek at bmarsicek@swibirds.org, (608-255-2473). A birder from one of the organizations will be there to welcome you, share information, and hang out to swift-watch.
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Please email us at helpchimneyswifts@gmail.com to let us know about other events.
If you really want to make a difference for swifts, please consider holding your own Swift Night Out, which can be as simple (or as robust) as you wish. See why and how at https://www.wiswifts.org/swift-night-out/ Be sure to click the link for an easy, how-to guide.
Thank you for caring about swifts!