Swifts Night Out

Michigan Audubon invites bird enthusiasts of all ages to gather Monday evening for a unique spectacle as hundreds of chimney swifts fly in to roost. According to the organization, the birds “flock together in a tornado-like formation, flying in increasingly tighter circles before dropping into the chimney where they roost for the night.” 

Because swifts are wild creatures, there’s no set time that they will appear, but activity is expected to start just before sunset and continue through dusk. Guests will have time to chat with fellow birders and ask Michigan Audubon conservation manager Chad Machinski any swift-related questions. Information will be available on swift conservation efforts, since the species has seen a sharp decline in population in recent decades due to factors such as urban development and climate change. 

The event is free. Attendees should meet at the Smith Floral parking lot. For more information, visit michiganaudubon.org/calendar.