Tonight my bluebird friend Paula Ziebarth and I were monitoring nestboxes
and banding bluebirds in Powell.  We were at a pond watching a big carp with
his fin out of the water when we heard a familiar chittering and into view
came a Chimney Swift. We watched as it dipped to the surface of the water
for a quick drink.   We quickly decided we had enough time to get to Sells
Middle School in Dublin, Ohio 43017. Sells is on 161 and east of Frantz Rd
and west of Dublin Rd and on the north side of 161.  We watch the swifts
from the back of the 1919 building and park in between the tennis courts and
the back of the building.  We arrived about 8:45 and about 25 or so swifts
were flying over the building.  This location is a favorite place for
staging Chimney Swifts in August and September and into early October.



I discovered the staging site about 14 years ago and I have enjoyed making
others aware of these amazing creatures and their important use of tall
chimney stacks close to dusk.  The birds gather from all different
directions and fly in a clockwise flight getting tighter and tighter in
their circle then start to enter the chimney for the night.  We say it looks
like they are being sucked into the chimney or it looks like reverse chimney
smoke. We were not disappointed tonight.  At 8:54pmEDT the first swift
entered the chimney.  By 9:09 we had counted over 915 birds entering the
chimney for their evening roost.



I count and enter data in www.chimneyswift.org and this weekend Aug 7, 8, 9
is Swift Night Out.  They want you to watch near dusk for the sound of the
swifts twittering and chittering and flying around a chimney before they
begin to enter when the light is low enough.  Then, as best as you can,
count them as they enter the chimney and note the start and end time.



On Sept 11, 12, 13 they have a second Swift Night Out.  For both monthly
counts, I will visit Sells Middle School.  I check the sunrise sunset
website and I try to go at least 30 minutes or more before sunset and watch
the birds come in from all directions. If it is a cloudy and overcast night,
the birds will start sooner.



About 8 or 9 years ago, the peek counts at Sells Middle School were over
5000 birds entering the chimney.  Visit www.ColumbusAudubon.org  under the
conservation tab and click on Chimney Swifts to read up on the swifts
history and behavior in our area.  This YouTube Video
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RNN-UvvLyQ  will give you a sense of the show you
will see.  Take some time and look for sites in your neighborhood in old
school or business chimneys'.  Take time to report your findings and get
others excited to watch the swifts.  Take it a step further and get involved
in a swift tower conservation project.  Several are going up in the central
Ohio area.  You should be hearing about them soon.  On Sept 11 we will have
a swift count hosted by Wild Birds Unlimited in Westerville. Their location
will be announced through the store a night or two before Sept 11.  And on
Sept 12 the Sawmill Rd Wild Birds Unlimited will host a program at Sells
Middle School.  I will attend both programs and help answer questions and
give a brief program.  Bring your lawn chair and you and the mosquitos will
enjoy the free show.



Darlene Sillick

Powell, Ohio










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