Tis the season for tailgating and OYBC’s dessert tailgate on September 9th was centered around a grand spectacle indeed. The focus wasn’t on a football field, though — it was on a chimney! About 54 youth and adults came to see a show and they were not disappointed. Desserts were shared while Dick Tuttle and Darlene Sillick gave an overview about Chimney Swifts, passing around some skins for up-close inspection. It was such a potpourri of people gathered there, including Ohio Young Birders Club members and their families, OSU Ornithology Club, folks from Inniswood Metro Park and The Nature Conservancy, educators, scientists, experienced birders and many birding novices. There were probably close to 2,500 birds that night, circling and swirling and then diving, diving into the school’s chimney. Old and young onlookers were amazed at the sight! It was one of those perfect evenings — the magic just happened.
Check out a photo gallery for the Swift Watch.
Gerry Brevoort is an advisor for the Central Ohio Chapter of the Ohio Young Birders Club.