On my drive to work at Cardinal Health, from Powell, Ohio to Dublin, Ohio, my route takes me across the O'Shaughnessy Dam near the Columbus Zoo. The last couple weeks I have declining numbers of swallows and an increasing number of Chimney Swifts. As I pass over the dam, swifts are all twisting and turning as they gobble down aerial insects for breakfast. With this observation and looking at the calendar, here we are at the end of July already. I know it is time to start checking out the large and not so large industrial and regular size chimneys. I do that so I can watch an annual spectacle of nature 'the staging of Chimney Swifts' as they amass near sunset darting lower and lower in the sky. Soon they start to circle and dip near the chimney mouth then as darkness is imminent, they appear to be sucked into the chimney and all is quiet. Clinging onto the brick and mortar walls they gather and sleep. Last night, I decided to visit a new chimney location and broaden my swift adventures looking for new chimneys to observe at just the right time, sunset. This past Sunday night, my friend Paula told me as her husband was landing at OSU Don Scott Field after 9pm, when she recognized the chittering sound of gathering swifts. Last night we drove down and arrived at 8:50pmET. There were 8 or so flying near the terminal and in 10 minutes they doubled their numbers. The chimney to the west of the tower must have a story. It is taller than the terminal and is a round large brick structure. Shortly after 9pm the birds were multiplying and by about 9:30pm close to 50 birds had entered the chimney. During our time at the back of the parking lot we had a Common Nighthawk fly across the lot from north to south. The first time he was very fast and quiet, the second time he meandered and twisted and continually called in wonderful nighthawk fashion. What a great way to marvel about birds, see the stunning clouds and sunset and talk birds with a friend. The end of July is usually when the staging begins and then the fun starts for 'swift watchers'. The swifts congregate in communal roosts prior to their migration in the late summer and early fall to the Amazon basin of Peru. Some roosts may consist of an extended family group of a half a dozen birds or so, but the larger sites can host hundreds or even thousands of swifts! Grab a folding chair and deal with mosquitos the best you can and watch this amazing spectacle. Observe the roost starting about 30 minutes before sunset and estimate the number of swifts that enter the chimney. After the last swift enters the structure, fill out their on-line reporting form. The form works best when using <http://tinyurl.com/6pskz67> Google Chrome as your browser. Count and enter data in <http://www.chimneyswift.org> www.chimneyswift.org. Swift Watch is the second weekend of August and September, Aug 12, 13 and 14 and Sept 9,10 and 11 are the dates for this years' Swift Night Out. Watch near dusk for the sound of the swifts twittering and chittering and flying around a chimney. Then count them as they enter the chimney and note the start and end time. About 16 years ago, I discovered the large colony at Sells Middle School in Dublin, Ohio where for a couple years there were over 5000 birds entering the chimney. Visit <http://www.ColumbusAudubon.org> 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 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RNN-UvvLyQ> 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. Stop by Sells on Aug 13 and 14 and Sept 9 when I will be there madly counting. I will answer questions and give a brief program till it is count time. Bring your lawn chair and you and the mosquitos will enjoy the free show. 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. Check the Columbus Audubon calendar of events and see where members of CA will be counting swifts and can answer your questions. Please be sure to observe private property and be a considerate bird watcher. Darlene Sillick Powell, Ohio ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]