Swift Night Out returns this September, and we are collaborating with fellow bird-loving organizations to celebrate the incredible natural phenomenon of Chimney Swifts coming in to roost during migration!
The BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, the Feminist Bird Club - Madison Chapter, and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, in partnership with the Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group, are collaborating to host this community gathering.
We hope to host this event at Cherokee Heights Middle School, but it will depend on where the birds are roosting. Sign up to receive email updates about the event using the form at the SOWBA website!
The final location will be confirmed by email Saturday morning. Bring a chair or blanket, snacks, and come ready to learn about swifts, bird conservation, and efforts to replace the Cherokee Heights chimney roost.
Can’t make Saturday? Dexter will also host a smaller gathering Friday, September 11th, with additional pop-up events planned during Swift Week, September 6–11.
A crowd comes together for Swift Night Out 2023. Photo by Caitlyn Schuchhardt / Feminist Bird Club
There are two ways to watch swifts:
Swift Night Out on Sept. 5 from 6-8 PM (this is the big community event!)
One of the Swift Week events, each evening Sept. 6-12, 6:30-8 PM (smaller community events!)
Our organizations will also be hosting informal sitting events each evening to watch the swifts. We’re calling it Swift Week!
Each Swift Week event will start around 6:30pm, and the location will be determined the day of so sign up to get email updates (registration form coming soon!).
A birder from one of our organizations will be there to welcome you, share information, answer questions, and hang out to swift-watch.
Design description: The black t-shirt is printed with a design showing a swirling tornado of Chimney Swifts silhouetted by the yellow, orange, red, purple, and blue of the evening sky, all converging on a chimney in the background.
Find full event details on our partner’s event page, including:
What are chimney swifts?
Why should you come?
What to expect (parking, accessibility, and what to bring [we’ll bring the binoculars])!
T-shirts to benefit Chimney Swift conservation!