August 23, 2019 3:40 a.m.
Roseburg Swift Watch begins Friday night in Fir Grove Park behind the Umpqua Valley Arts Center off of West Harvard Avenue in Roseburg.
Vaux’s Swifts nest only in western North America migrating to Central and South America for the winter. Each year, thousands of Swifts gather in the chimney adjacent to the Clay Place during their migration. At sunset during migration, Swifts gather in the dozens, hundreds or thousands, to communally roost.
Members of the Umpqua Valley Audubon Society are available Friday evenings through September 13th to serve as interpretive naturalists, with information and brochures about the birds, as well as more general information about birding and the natural world. Local artists will be at the chimney on Friday nights as well. They will be leading free art activities for kids ages 5 and older. Weather permitting, the Swift Sisters and Friends will be playing music ranging from old time fiddle tunes, bluegrass and Americana.
Throughout the fall migration, Audubon members will be participating in a west coast wide data collection effort.
Friday evening activities begin an hour before sunset. That means this Friday and next, the event will start at 7:00 p.m. The last 2 weeks, activities will get started at 6:30 p.m.
Roseburg Swift Watch is a partnership of the Umpqua Valley Audubon Society, the City of Roseburg Parks and Recreation Department, and the Umpqua Valley Arts Association.