Roost of another kind

[Al Denton]

I believe I have found a communal roost of Chimney Swifts. I took my daughter out early yesterday morning(6:30) to run on a schoolyard track. I happened to look out over the school and saw a large number of birds flying around over the building. After more examining I found that these birds were chimey swifts(about 100) and they were circling a very large chimney. The circle got bigger and bigger until they all dispersed out into the neighborhoods. If this were a roost I probably got there just a little too late to see them actually coming out of the chimney....I went back late yesterday near dusk to find maybe twice the number circling the chimney once again. The circle gradually got tighter and taller and just about dark they all flew down into this this huge chimney. It looked like a column of curling smoke coming out from a chimney except it was in reverse. I really cool thing to have wittnessed!...Anyway, keep an eye out on some of these big chimneys you see around. You might see one....One more thing. Has anyone ever seen a Chimney Swift perched or sitting on a limb or line or house? I betha'ain't. Al

[Laverne]

Nope, that's something I've never seen. They fly overhead all the time. Sometimes, I see a couple of martins with them.

I have never thought about a premigratory roost for chimney swifts. What about barn swallows and cliff or bridge swallows? Do any of you know about these other swallow species roosting habits? I'll bet they would be a site to see!!

Thanks, Al.

[Al Denton]

No Laverne, I really don't know that much about these other swallows and their roosting habits. One thing though is that since I don't have martins I'm finding these chimney swallows to be fun little guys to watch. MY next door neighbors have them, and I've been watching those little rascals flying in and out of their chimney all summer. All the little ones fledged last week and I don't see them here much at all now. I bet they're spending the night at the school roost now...I too have seen them flying around with SY martins before. Al

[John Miller]

Hey Al

Here's a link to more information about chimney swifts. http://www.chimneyswifts.org/ They got their own set of people fans. I joke that I'm trying not to visit this web site.

John Miller,
St. Louis, Mo

[Al Denton]

Thanks John, I've visited this site before. Pretty interesting stuff