September 8, 2026 3:05 a.m. 

Roseburg Parks and Recreation and the Umpqua Bird Alliance will host two evenings of birdwatching, education and music during the 2026 Roseburg Fall Swift Watch and Umpqua Valley Migratory Bird Celebration.

A city release said the free events will be held from 6:30 p.m. to sunset Friday, September 18, and Friday, September 25, near the Clay Place chimney in Fir Grove Park. The chimney is located behind the Umpqua Valley Arts Center on West Harvard Avenue.

The Umpqua Bird Alliance, formerly known as the Umpqua Valley Audubon Society, is partnering with the city to showcase the fall migration of Vaux’s Swifts and other migratory birds.

Vaux’s Swifts migrate from western North America toward wintering grounds in Central and South America. Near sunset, the small birds may gather in large groups, circle above a roosting site and spiral into a chimney for the night. As the swifts are wild, their movements are unpredictable.

The release said Umpqua Bird Alliance members will be available beginning at 6:30 p.m. to serve as interpretive naturalists, answer questions and share information about Vaux’s Swifts, bird migration and the natural world. Federal and state agencies are also expected to participate, along with two rescued Cedar Waxwings that serve as ambassador birds. The Oregon Old Time Fiddlers Association will perform Americana music.

Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs to set up on the grass around the Clay Place. Attendees may also bring snacks, but alcohol is not allowed.

For current event information, check the Umpqua Bird Alliance’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/UmpquaAudubon