Coastal Swift Night Out: Fairhope
Schedule
Thu Sep 23 2021 at 06:15 pm to 07:45 pm
Location
Fairhopers Community Park | Fairhope, AL
Advertisement
Location Update: The chimney for this Swift Night Out is at the old K-1 Center across the street from Fairhoper’s Community Park (100 S. Church Street). There should be ample street parking, and additional parking can be found at the park.Pre-registration is requested for planning purposes by 12 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, September 22nd. Visit https://alaudubon.org/event/2021-09-23/ for more information and to register.
Swift Night Out is coming to Fairhope! Join us as we enjoy the evening with one of our favorite urban birds, the chimney swift (Chaetura pelagica). All ages and abilities welcome!
After these aerial acrobats have fledged their young and cleared out their nests, the entire North American population makes its way south to winter along the remote headwaters of the Amazon River. On their way there, they congregate in huge roosting flocks with as many as two or three thousand birds sharing a single chimney—numbers that make for a tremendous spectacle when they all pour into the tiny opening at once.
Together, we’ll wait for sunset (6:47 p.m.), watch the swifts work themselves up into their nightly “swiftnado,” and then count the number of individuals who enter the roost. Best of all, the data we produce will help researchers at the Chimney Swift Conservation Association (chimneyswifts.org) get a better sense of trends in eastern swift populations and the effects of climate change on these birds’ annual migratory cycle.
The details: Meetup will be at 6:15 p.m. CDT at Fairhoper’s Community Park (100 S. Church Street). There should be ample street parking, and additional parking can be found at the park. The chimney for this Swift Night Out is at the old K-1 Center across the street from the park.
Binoculars are handy, but certainly not necessary, for viewing the swifts as they assemble in the skies above the chimney. You may want to bring a lawn chair. If you’re a social media user, tag us @alaudubon (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). We strongly encourage you to share your thoughts and photos with the hashtag #AlabamaSwiftWatch!
In the case of inclement weather, the event may be cancelled. You may contact the trip leader the day of the event if the weather is questionable.
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible and open to all
The trip leaders: Sarah Randolph (205-422-4124) will lead this trip. Please contact on the day of the trip only. Feel free to email us with questions.
Love swifts? Support our efforts to build chimney swift nesting towers throughout Alabama. For more hands-on action, join our Alabama SwiftWatch program by signing up at alaudubon.org/volunteer.
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
Fairhopers Community Park, 105 S Church St, Fairhope, AL 36532, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
