A SWIFT NIGHT OUT

2011

A Continent-wide Chimney Swift Roost Monitoring Project

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INDIVIDUAL REPORTS

Spartanburg, SC

 

104 Chimney Swifts

8:01-8:10 PM EDT

9 September 2011

S. Pine Street

Spartanburg, SC 29302

Former public library converted to office space on edge of residential/suburban community

79o F, slightly overcast; Carole Anderson reported

 

291 Chimney Swifts

8:01-8:10 PM EDT

9 September 2011

Houston Elementary School

Spartanburg, SC 29307

Older elementary school with large chimney, on edge of residential/suburban community

79o F, slightly overcast; Karen Swetland reported

 

313 Chimney Swifts

7:54-8:18 PM EDT

9 September 2011

East Main Street

Spartanburg, SC 29302

Small brick apartment complex near Converse College; on edge of residential/suburban community

[blocks from former library]

79o F, slightly overcast; Lyle & Sarah Campbell reported

 

346 Chimney Swifts

7:57-8:10 PM EDT

10 September 2011

Houston Elementary School

Spartanburg, SC 29307

Older elementary school with large chimney, on edge of residential/suburban community

78o F, slightly overcast; Karen Swetland reported

 

523 Chimney Swifts

7:51-8:16 PM EDT

11 September 2011

312 N. Dean Street

Spartanburg, SC 29302

abandoned brick building, possibly small school [near downtown, we had seen swifts around downtown and finally found this roost]

77o F, slightly overcast; Lyle & Sarah Campbell, Carole Anderson

 

Sarah Campbell

Biology Instructor, NSE [ 208 Smith Building]

USC Upstate, 800 University Way, Spartanburg, SC 29303

 

 

Fountain City, WI

 

We counted on Sept 9 2011 at about 7:30. The swifts went into a chimney of a former school building built in the early 1900s and now used as apartments. The location is on Hill ST. in Fountain City WI 5429. We counted 231 chimney swifts. One person who was counting from a different vantage point had a significantly higher number, so the count may be low. At times it was hard to tell if they were going in, or pulling up for one last go round, but I feel pretty confident that there were at least 231. Weather was great and bugs were plentiful.

Joan Schnabel

 

 

London, ON

 

On Friday September 9, a small group of observers gathered to watch the roost at the Smith Fruit warehouse, on Maitland Street in London Ontario. Ed McNeil counted 340 chimney swifts entering the chimney between 7:30 pm and 8:00 pm. (Sunset was 7:46 pm. High temperature that day was 25°Celsius.)

On Tuesday September 13, Winifred Wake counted approximately 500 chimney swifts entering the chimney at South Secondary School in London. On the same evening, David Wake counted approximately 500 chimney swifts entering a chimney at the Labatt brewery complex, between 7:25 pm and 8:00 pm. The evening temperature was 19°C. In both cases, the birds were entering by 5s or 10s at times, making counting difficult. These two roosts are about one kilometre apart and other active roosts are nearby.

 

Winifred and David Wake

 

 

Grundy, VA

 

3,000 Chimney Swifts

8:00 p.m.

September 11, 2011

Grundy, Virginia

Swifts going into school chimney

clear night, bright nearly full moon

 

Roger Mayhorn

 

 

Houston, TX

 

We started the SNO's at St Paul's on 8/24. The swifts have decided not to roost at St Paul's in numbers this year. They are at Congregation Emanu El and the old National Armory Building. We had 16 swifts. We cancelled the SNO, but the announcement ran in the newspaper. We had one visitor from the annoucement. We also had dark clouds, thunder, and rain drops! (2" at my house the next morning!!)

On 8/26 we had the SNO at the Nature Discovery Center in Bellaire. NDC has two towers built by Boy Scouts. We counted 18 swifts and 43 people. This is a fun location since the swifts fly low - right over your head. This is also a fun event since families attend. In addition it is a great chance to show off the swift towers.

On 8/29 we had an Urban Birding Extravaganza for the Ornithology Group. We viewed Purple Martins gathering to roost at the Fountains Shopping Center on 59 South. We had the opportunity to watch them drink and bathe in a pond near the roost site. We then went to Lakeview Elementary to count 2000 swifts entering the chimney.

On 8/30 we held the SNO for Pershing and Whole Foods. We had about 30 people. Many people shopping at Whole Foods stopped to visit with us. We counted 292 swifts at Whole Foods and 245 swifts at Pershing.

On 8/31 I counted 210 swifts at the old National Armory Building (not a SNO event).

On 9/1 I counted 145 swifts at Emanu El (not a SNO event).

On 9/2 we held a SNO at Pershing for the Houston Garden Club. We had about 50 people and 92 swifts. (This event was just in time! By the following Tuesday the swifts were at Whole Foods.)

On 9/6 we counted 440 swifts at Whole Foods and 25 at Pershing (regular Tuesday evening count).

On 9/9 we held the final SNO at Lakeview Elementary in Sugar Land. We counted 1562 swifts and 245 people. This is a great event! The school and neighborhood really support this location. The school sent flyers home with all the students. Many of the attendees were families from the school.

All the events are sponsored by Houston Audubon and the Nature Discovery Center. Thanks to Mary Ann Beauchemin (NDC), Mary Anne Weber (HAS), and Vicki Vroble (HAS)! In addition, Betsy Black, Don Verser, and Marcy Brown helped with the events. The seven of us are counting every Tuesday at Whole Foods, Pershing, and Lakeview. Whole Foods Market sponsored the events on 8/30 and 9/6.

In general the numbers of swifts seemed higher than normal during the summer. During August and September numbers seem to be on the low side.

 

We believe the chimneys at the Sugar Mill are capped. Houston Audubon tried to work with the developers, but they were not receptive.

On a positive note the chimney at the Whole Foods (AT&T) location was capped for 7 - 10 days this spring. Susan Webb, the game warden, was able to visit the site and obtain a contact for us. Mary Anne Weber called AT&T and convinced them to uncap the chimney. Yeah!

Mary Anne Weber also talked to one of the companies renovating the National Armory. We do not anticipate that they will cap the chimney. The building will become the Buffalo Soldiers museum.

We will continue to count until the end of October.  Another great year!

Pam Smollen

 


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