Chimney Swift Volunteer Training

Are you looking for a new citizen science project to take part in? Michigan Audubon is seeking volunteers to survey Chimney Swift roosts across the state during fall migration. Surveying for swifts is fun, easy, and suitable for all ages.

Monitoring takes place at dusk as potentially hundreds of swifts come together in a tornado-like flock before entering the roost for the night. Finding potential roost locations can be an adventure in itself and starts with looking for large, uncapped chimneys on historical buildings, old factories, schools, churches, courthouses, or libraries.

Michigan Audubon will provide training for those interested in monitoring roosts on August 7 at 8 p.m. The training session will begin at the MA office (located at 2310 Science Parkway, Okemos, MI 48864) and proceed to a nearby roost for participants to get a firsthand look at these birds.

Although attracted to urban areas with high human population densities, this species is often overlooked and its distribution and numbers in Michigan are poorly understood. By surveying these roosts, we hope to gather information to help support conservation of critical roosting structures in Michigan.

The annual national survey occurs on the second weekends in August and September (Friday – Sunday nights), but we are looking for volunteers to survey at any time throughout August and September. Surveys begin 30 minutes before sunset and end when the last swift enters the chimney.

Learn more about conducting the surveys, find data sheets, and enter survey data at www.michiganaudubon.org/bfc/chsw. Contact Michigan Audubon Conservation Program Coordinator Linnea Rowse with questions at lrowse@michiganaudubon.org or 517-580-7364.