Date: 10/10/26 5:28 pm From: cronakelsey via groups.io <cronakelsey...> Subject: [NEBirds] Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Banding Report - Wildcat Hills Station 10/4/2026 - 10/10/2026
Hi everyone!
**
**
Checking in here with the recap of the final week, as well as a season recap, for the Wildcat Hills banding station. This week I banded a total of 133 new birds of 23 species including 3 new species.
**
**
Red Crossbill: 29
Pine Siskin: 26
Oregon Junco: 20
House Finch: 14
Cassinâs Finch: 11
Evening Grosbeak: 6
American Robin: 4
Gambelâs White-crowned Sparrow: 3
Townsendâs Solitaire: 3
Black-capped Chickadee: 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch: 2
Audubonâs Warbler: 1
Myrtle Warbler: 1
American Goldfinch: 1
Blue Jay: 1 *new species*
Downy Woodpecker: 1 *new species*
Brown Thrasher: 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 1
Pink-sided Junco: 1
White-winged Junco: 1
Unknown Dark-eyed Junco: 1
Orange-crowned Warbler: 1
Pygym Nuthatch: 1
**
**
This brings our season tally up to 808 new birds banded of 41 different species.
**
**
Red Crossbill: 251
House Finch: 85
Pine Siskin: 78
Spotted Towhee: 65
Cassinâs Finch: 59 - a station record!
Red-breasted Nuthatch: 33
Oregon Junco: 32
Audubonâs Warbler: 29
Pygmy Nuthatch: 18
American Goldfinch: 15
Orange-crowned Warbler: 14
Wilsonâs Warbler: 14
Townsendâs Solitaire: 12 - a station record!
Evening Grosbeak: 10 - a station record!
Black-capped Chickadee: 9
Chipping Sparrow: 9
Gambelâs White-crowned Sparrow: 7
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 7
American Robin: 6
Western Tanager: 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: 5
Northern House Wren: 5
Pink-sided Junco: 5
Townsendâs Warbler: 5 - a station record!
Yellow-breasted Chat: 5
Lesser Goldfinch: 4
Mourning Dove: 2
Myrtle Warbler: 2
Swainsonâs Thrush: 2
Western Wood-Pewee: 2
White-winged Junco: 2
Blue Jay: 1
Brown Thrasher: 1 - a station record!
Downy Woodpecker: 1
Dusky Flycatcher:
Lazuli Bunting: 1
MacGillivray's Warbler: 1
Unknown Dark-eyed Junco: 1
Unknown Warbling Vireo: 1
Unknown Yellow-rumped Warbler: 1
Field Sparrow: 1
**
**
Remarkable records broken include Cassinâs Finch (5 caught in 2012), Evening Grosbeak (never caught at the station before), Townsendâs Solitaire (10 caught in 2022), Brown Thrasher (never caught at the station before), and Townsendâs Warbler (3 caught in 2020). We didnât break the record for Red Crossbills (323 in 2010) but came in second. Lastly, this season fell in fourth place for total birds banded (1006 in 2020, 915 in 2012, 855 in 2010).
**
**
Species I havenât banded until now include Red Crossbill, Cassinâs Finch, Evening Grosbeak, Pink-sided Junco, White-winged Junco, and Field Sparrow. Being the bander at Wildcat Hills for the 20th season was a pleasure! It has been a wild ride. Thanks so much for tagging along with these weekly updates!
Date: 10/10/26 5:22 pm From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: [NEBirds] common poorwil
One flushed twice today (Oct 10) on the Borman Bridge WMA just west of my place SE of Valentine. Â F-O-F Townsend's solitaire at my place on Oct. 8. Â Temps over 90 today, SW wind.
Date: 10/10/26 4:50 pm From: Kianna Burtle via groups.io <kiannaburtle...> Subject: [NEBirds] Chadron State Park Week 6 (Last week!) Banding Recap (10/6-10/10)
NEBirders,
This was the last week of this years fall banding station at Chadron State Park. Thank you to everyone who followed along this season! I had a lot of fun writing these weekly recaps.
Date: 10/9/26 2:40 pm From: Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Great news for the UNK collection!
Thanks Paul for the follow upItâs best to be at the front end of issues like this before they get Cast in Stone and cut down the rumor mill.Don Maas
âIf you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rules of fools.              PlatoâYou can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.â
Don & Shirley MaasThe Maasâs have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
On Friday, October 9, 2026, 10:02 AM, Jerry Toll via groups.io <carolnhattie...> wrote:
Thatâs good news, Paul! Thanks for spreading the word.Jerry Toll
On Fri, Oct 9, 2026 at 10:31â¯AM Paul L. Pearson via groups.io <Propearson...> wrote:
Appreciate everyoneâs feedback re: the UNK Collection!
Hello Paul,Thanks so much for your support of the UNK Birds Collection. I'm just letting you know that I have personally spoken with the Senior Vice Chancellor, Dr. Julie Shaffer, and she has assured me that there are no plans to remove any of our natural history collections (birds, insects, and plants) at UNK. These collections will continue to be housed in a new area once renovation, and new building plans are finalized. No renovations or even preparation for new buildings will begin any sooner than Summer 2027, and even this timeline is uncertain. Dr. Shaffer is currently out of town at a meeting but will also share the community support for our UNK natural history collection with the Chancellor's cabinet. Again, Dr. Shaffer emphasized that there are zero plans to remove natural history collections at UNK and that these will continue to be maintained at UNK in the future.
Please let us know if you have any further questions or concerns.Best wishes,Letty
Paul L. Pearson, Ph.D.President, Nebraska Ornithologistsâ Union
--
Paul L. Pearson, PhDPresident-Nebraska Ornithologistsâ Union
Omaha, NE
Date: 10/9/26 10:02 am From: Jerry Toll via groups.io <carolnhattie...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Great news for the UNK collection!
Thatâs good news, Paul! Thanks for spreading the word.
Jerry Toll
On Fri, Oct 9, 2026 at 10:31â¯AM Paul L. Pearson via groups.io <Propearson=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Appreciate everyoneâs feedback re: the UNK Collection!
>
>
> Hello Paul,
> Thanks so much for your support of the UNK Birds Collection. I'm just
> letting you know that I have personally spoken with the Senior Vice
> Chancellor, Dr. Julie Shaffer, and she has assured me that there are no
> plans to remove any of our natural history collections (birds, insects, and
> plants) at UNK. These collections will continue to be housed in a new area
> once renovation, and new building plans are finalized. No renovations or
> even preparation for new buildings will begin any sooner than Summer 2027,
> and even this timeline is uncertain. Dr. Shaffer is currently out of town
> at a meeting but will also share the community support for our UNK natural
> history collection with the Chancellor's cabinet. Again, Dr. Shaffer
> emphasized that there are zero plans to remove natural history collections
> at UNK and that these will continue to be maintained at UNK in the future.
>
> Please let us know if you have any further questions or concerns.
> Best wishes,
> Letty
>
> Paul L. Pearson, Ph.D.
> President, Nebraska Ornithologistsâ Union
>
>
> --
> Paul L. Pearson, PhD
> President-Nebraska Ornithologistsâ Union
> Omaha, NE
>
>
>
Date: 10/9/26 8:31 am From: Paul L. Pearson via groups.io <Propearson...> Subject: [NEBirds] Great news for the UNK collection!
Appreciate everyoneâs feedback re: the UNK Collection!
Hello Paul,
Thanks so much for your support of the UNK Birds Collection. I'm just letting you know that I have personally spoken with the Senior Vice Chancellor, Dr. Julie Shaffer, and she has assured me that there are no plans to remove any of our natural history collections (birds, insects, and plants) at UNK. These collections will continue to be housed in a new area once renovation, and new building plans are finalized. No renovations or even preparation for new buildings will begin any sooner than Summer 2027, and even this timeline is uncertain. Dr. Shaffer is currently out of town at a meeting but will also share the community support for our UNK natural history collection with the Chancellor's cabinet. Again, Dr. Shaffer emphasized that there are zero plans to remove natural history collections at UNK and that these will continue to be maintained at UNK in the future.
Please let us know if you have any further questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Letty
Paul L. Pearson, Ph.D.
President, Nebraska Ornithologistsâ Union
Date: 10/8/26 8:15 am From: Paul L. Pearson via groups.io <Propearson...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] FW: Please save the important Sternberg Museum biological collections
My apologies for the confusion with my previous email.here is my correction:Dear Dr. Shaffer, Dr. Eckerson and University of Nebraska Regents;My apologies, I confused the name of the collection in my previous email. The specimen collection I meant to refer to is in Bruner Hall at UNK.The Sternberg Museum that is being shuttered is in Ft Hays KS, and obviously not under the auspices of the Nebraska Board of Regents.  My understanding is that there will be discussion regarding the future of Bruner Hall including possible renovations that may negatively impact the future of the collection as well as the Biology department.My error notwithstanding, the closing of another regional museum collection highlights the importance of the work being done in the Biology Dept at UNK and the need to retain these important historical specimens from the central plains for future study.Sent from my Galaxy
Date: 10/8/26 7:44 am From: Ross Silcock via groups.io <silcock...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] FW: Please save the important Sternberg Museum biological collections
So there's no connection collection-wise between Bruner Hall/UNK and Sternberg?
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Jacob C. Cooper via groups.io <cooperj2...>
Sent: Thursday, 08 October 2026 08:54:22
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] FW: Please save the important Sternberg Museum biological collections
From what I can see on the publicly posted agenda for the Board of Regents, they are discussing renovations to Bruner Hall, where UNK ornithology collections and space are located.
Speaking from a personal perspective (not on behalf of the university), I can say that there have been discussions in the past about whether the UNK collection will remain here given the number of budgetary cuts that have been occurring within the NU system. As Peggy discussed at the NOU meeting, there are lots of us here working to preserve it and hoping that it can remain at UNK.
So to answer your question:
Sternberg â closing at the end of the year
UNK Collection â future uncertain
JC
------------------------------------------
Jacob C. Cooper, PhD (he/him)
Citizen of the Cherokee Nation
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...>
Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 08:10
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] FW: Please save the important Sternberg Museum biological collections
Caution: Non-NU Email
So is the Sternberg being closed? Or is the UNK collection being closed?
I want to thank everyone (especially Paul!) for their support of ornithology programs within the University of Nebraska.
I am not in a position to speak on behalf of the university in any capacity (nor am I privy to higher-level conversations in my position), but I did want to correct the record that the Sternberg Museum is in Fort Hays, Kansas.
Dear Dr. Shaffer, Dr. Eckerson and University of Nebraska Regents;
It has come to our attention that there is a plan to shutter the Sternberg Museum at the University of Nebraska Kearney.
As President of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, and on behalf of our members, I strongly urge you to reconsider this decision and preserve the important and irreplaceable historical specimens in this collection for current and future generations of Nebraskans
Our organization was originally founded as a scientific organization by researchers at the University of Nebraska in 1899, making us the oldest continuous state ornithological organization in the country. We continue today in our mission of the study, appreciation and protection of birds.
There is a very strong and growing Ornithology program in the Biology department. Their research, conducted in Nebraska, will be getting international recognition soon as their proposed taxonomic 'split' of the Marsh Wren into two species (Eastern and Western, both residents of Nebraska) is being accepted by the American Ornithological Society, and will permanently impact the understanding of bird taxonomy.
Collections like the ones at UNK and the the State Museum in Morrill Hall are extremely important for not only the education of students and citizens in Nebraska, but for the potential for scientific research. Advances in molecular sequencing technologies now make the extraction and study of DNA from historical specimens possible. These collections from the state of Nebraska over the past century hold secrets and stories that can never be studied and revealed if destroyed.
In September, NOU held our Fall Meeting on the UNK campus with nearly 100 attendees, including UNK faculty, undergraduate and graduate students from UNK and UNL. Dr Letitia Reichart, co-chair of Biology was our keynote speaker. Several students from UNL, UNK and as far as Univ of Wyoming presented scientific research at this meeting. One of the most interesting presentations was by Peggy Huss, a student in the Biology department and ornithology program at UNK. She is painstakingly restoring the avian collection at UNK that has been neglected for decades to preserve this important natural history of our state. New specimens are also continously being collected as dead birds are found, catalouged and preserved.
These collections owned by the University of Nebraska system are important for not only the education of students from across the state that attend, but also the citizens of this state that visit these museums and for the repository of historical biological materials that cannot be replaced once destroyed.
NOU has maintained a strong association with the University system over the past 127 years and most recently have transferred our archival material from the state museum in Lincoln to UNK. Under my presidency in the past 2.5 years, we have supported the ornithological research at UNK/UNL by providing opportunities for faculty and students to present research related to Nebraska's 472 (soon to be 473, thanks to UNK) bird species and associated habitats that are so important. It is my plan that we will also begin supporting these studies with small research grants in thr near future.
We respectfully ask that you preserve and protect these important historical collections of not only birds, but all the other irreplaceable biological samples contained in these collections.
Sincerely,
Paul L. Pearson, Ph.D
President-Nebraska Ornithologists' Union
--
Paul L. Pearson, PhD
President-Nebraska Ornithologistsâ Union
Omaha, NE
Date: 10/8/26 6:54 am From: Jacob C. Cooper via groups.io <cooperj2...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] FW: Please save the important Sternberg Museum biological collections
From what I can see on the publicly posted agenda for the Board of Regents, they are discussing renovations to Bruner Hall, where UNK ornithology collections and space are located.
Speaking from a personal perspective (not on behalf of the university), I can say that there have been discussions in the past about whether the UNK collection will remain here given the number of budgetary cuts that have been occurring within the NU system. As Peggy discussed at the NOU meeting, there are lots of us here working to preserve it and hoping that it can remain at UNK.
So to answer your question:
Sternberg â closing at the end of the year
UNK Collection â future uncertain
JC
------------------------------------------
Jacob C. Cooper, PhD (he/him)
Citizen of the Cherokee Nation
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...>
Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 08:10
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] FW: Please save the important Sternberg Museum biological collections
Caution: Non-NU Email
So is the Sternberg being closed? Or is the UNK collection being closed?
I want to thank everyone (especially Paul!) for their support of ornithology programs within the University of Nebraska.
I am not in a position to speak on behalf of the university in any capacity (nor am I privy to higher-level conversations in my position), but I did want to correct the record that the Sternberg Museum is in Fort Hays, Kansas.
Dear Dr. Shaffer, Dr. Eckerson and University of Nebraska Regents;
It has come to our attention that there is a plan to shutter the Sternberg Museum at the University of Nebraska Kearney.
As President of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, and on behalf of our members, I strongly urge you to reconsider this decision and preserve the important and irreplaceable historical specimens in this collection for current and future generations of Nebraskans
Our organization was originally founded as a scientific organization by researchers at the University of Nebraska in 1899, making us the oldest continuous state ornithological organization in the country. We continue today in our mission of the study, appreciation and protection of birds.
There is a very strong and growing Ornithology program in the Biology department. Their research, conducted in Nebraska, will be getting international recognition soon as their proposed taxonomic 'split' of the Marsh Wren into two species (Eastern and Western, both residents of Nebraska) is being accepted by the American Ornithological Society, and will permanently impact the understanding of bird taxonomy.
Collections like the ones at UNK and the the State Museum in Morrill Hall are extremely important for not only the education of students and citizens in Nebraska, but for the potential for scientific research. Advances in molecular sequencing technologies now make the extraction and study of DNA from historical specimens possible. These collections from the state of Nebraska over the past century hold secrets and stories that can never be studied and revealed if destroyed.
In September, NOU held our Fall Meeting on the UNK campus with nearly 100 attendees, including UNK faculty, undergraduate and graduate students from UNK and UNL. Dr Letitia Reichart, co-chair of Biology was our keynote speaker. Several students from UNL, UNK and as far as Univ of Wyoming presented scientific research at this meeting. One of the most interesting presentations was by Peggy Huss, a student in the Biology department and ornithology program at UNK. She is painstakingly restoring the avian collection at UNK that has been neglected for decades to preserve this important natural history of our state. New specimens are also continously being collected as dead birds are found, catalouged and preserved.
These collections owned by the University of Nebraska system are important for not only the education of students from across the state that attend, but also the citizens of this state that visit these museums and for the repository of historical biological materials that cannot be replaced once destroyed.
NOU has maintained a strong association with the University system over the past 127 years and most recently have transferred our archival material from the state museum in Lincoln to UNK. Under my presidency in the past 2.5 years, we have supported the ornithological research at UNK/UNL by providing opportunities for faculty and students to present research related to Nebraska's 472 (soon to be 473, thanks to UNK) bird species and associated habitats that are so important. It is my plan that we will also begin supporting these studies with small research grants in thr near future.
We respectfully ask that you preserve and protect these important historical collections of not only birds, but all the other irreplaceable biological samples contained in these collections.
Sincerely,
Paul L. Pearson, Ph.D
President-Nebraska Ornithologists' Union
--
Paul L. Pearson, PhD
President-Nebraska Ornithologistsâ Union
Omaha, NE
Date: 10/8/26 6:10 am From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] FW: Please save the important Sternberg Museum biological collections
So is the Sternberg being closed? Or is the UNK collection being closed?
- Tobin
On Thu, Oct 8, 2026 at 7:20â¯AM Jacob C. Cooper via groups.io <cooperj2=
<unk.edu...> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I want to thank everyone (especially Paul!) for their support of
> ornithology programs within the University of Nebraska.
>
> I am not in a position to speak on behalf of the university in any
> capacity (nor am I privy to higher-level conversations in my position), but
> I did want to correct the record that the Sternberg Museum is in Fort Hays,
> Kansas.
>
> JC
>
> ------------------------------------------
> *Jacob C. Cooper, PhD (he/him)*
> *Lab Website* <https://unkornithology.github.io/> | *Book a meeting*
> <https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/<54b539030932433597927a9d0bc134c6...>/meetingtype/DipxYAhygk6c6tyh8N9U9g2?anonymous&ismsaljsauthenabled&ep=mLinkFromTile> >
> *Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska at Kearney*
> Bruner Hall of Sciences, Room 321
> 2401 11th Avenue
> Kearney, NE 68849-1130
>
> *Research Associate, Field Museum, Chicago*
> *Citizen of the Cherokee Nation*
>
> *From: *<NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Art Check via
> groups.io <artsbirdbrain...>
> *Date: *Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 06:48
> *To: *<NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
> *Subject: *Re: [NEBirds] FW: Please save the important Sternberg Museum
> biological collections
>
> *Caution:* Non-NU Email
>
> Great letter Paul
> Art Check
> Nevada, IA
>
> On Oct 8, 2026, at 12:23â¯AM, Paul L. Pearson via groups.io <Propearson=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> 
>
> Here is the email I just sent.
>
> Feel free to use it to craft your own message.
>
> Thank you!
>
> Paul P
>
>
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: propearson <propearson...>
> Date: 10/8/26 12:21 AM (GMT-06:00)
> To: <corpsec...>, <eckersonjm...>, <shafferjj...>
> Cc: Letty Reichart <reichartlm...>
> Subject: Please save the important Sternberg Museum biological collections
>
> Dear Dr. Shaffer, Dr. Eckerson and University of Nebraska Regents;
>
> It has come to our attention that there is a plan to shutter the Sternberg
> Museum at the University of Nebraska Kearney.
>
> As President of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, and on behalf of our
> members, I strongly urge you to reconsider this decision and preserve the
> important and irreplaceable historical specimens in this collection for
> current and future generations of Nebraskans
>
> Our organization was originally founded as a scientific organization by
> researchers at the University of Nebraska in 1899, making us the oldest
> continuous state ornithological organization in the country. We continue
> today in our mission of the study, appreciation and protection of birds.
>
> There is a very strong and growing Ornithology program in the Biology
> department. Their research, conducted in Nebraska, will be getting
> international recognition soon as their proposed taxonomic 'split' of the
> Marsh Wren into two species (Eastern and Western, both residents of
> Nebraska) is being accepted by the American Ornithological Society, and
> will permanently impact the understanding of bird taxonomy.
>
> Collections like the ones at UNK and the the State Museum in Morrill Hall
> are extremely important for not only the education of students and citizens
> in Nebraska, but for the potential for scientific research. Advances in
> molecular sequencing technologies now make the extraction and study of DNA
> from historical specimens possible. These collections from the state of
> Nebraska over the past century hold secrets and stories that can never be
> studied and revealed if destroyed.
>
> In September, NOU held our Fall Meeting on the UNK campus with nearly 100
> attendees, including UNK faculty, undergraduate and graduate students from
> UNK and UNL. Dr Letitia Reichart, co-chair of Biology was our keynote
> speaker. Several students from UNL, UNK and as far as Univ of Wyoming
> presented scientific research at this meeting. One of the most interesting
> presentations was by Peggy Huss, a student in the Biology department and
> ornithology program at UNK. She is painstakingly restoring the avian
> collection at UNK that has been neglected for decades to preserve this
> important natural history of our state. New specimens are also continously
> being collected as dead birds are found, catalouged and preserved.
>
> These collections owned by the University of Nebraska system are important
> for not only the education of students from across the state that attend,
> but also the citizens of this state that visit these museums and for the
> repository of historical biological materials that cannot be replaced once
> destroyed.
>
> NOU has maintained a strong association with the University system over
> the past 127 years and most recently have transferred our archival material
> from the state museum in Lincoln to UNK. Under my presidency in the past
> 2.5 years, we have supported the ornithological research at UNK/UNL by
> providing opportunities for faculty and students to present research
> related to Nebraska's 472 (soon to be 473, thanks to UNK) bird species and
> associated habitats that are so important. It is my plan that we will also
> begin supporting these studies with small research grants in thr near
> future.
>
> We respectfully ask that you preserve and protect these important
> historical collections of not only birds, but all the other irreplaceable
> biological samples contained in these collections.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Paul L. Pearson, Ph.D
> President-Nebraska Ornithologists' Union
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Paul L. Pearson, PhD
> President-Nebraska Ornithologistsâ Union
> Omaha, NE
>
>
>
>
Date: 10/8/26 5:20 am From: Jacob C. Cooper via groups.io <cooperj2...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] FW: Please save the important Sternberg Museum biological collections
Hi all,
I want to thank everyone (especially Paul!) for their support of ornithology programs within the University of Nebraska.
I am not in a position to speak on behalf of the university in any capacity (nor am I privy to higher-level conversations in my position), but I did want to correct the record that the Sternberg Museum is in Fort Hays, Kansas.
Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Bruner Hall of Sciences, Room 321
2401 11th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68849-1130
Research Associate, Field Museum, Chicago
Citizen of the Cherokee Nation
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Art Check via groups.io <artsbirdbrain...>
Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 06:48
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] FW: Please save the important Sternberg Museum biological collections
Caution: Non-NU Email
Great letter Paul
Art Check
Nevada, IA
On Oct 8, 2026, at 12:23â¯AM, Paul L. Pearson via groups.io <Propearson...> wrote:

Here is the email I just sent.
Feel free to use it to craft your own message.
Thank you!
Paul P
-------- Original message --------
From: propearson <propearson...>
Date: 10/8/26 12:21 AM (GMT-06:00)
To: <corpsec...>, <eckersonjm...>, <shafferjj...>
Cc: Letty Reichart <reichartlm...>
Subject: Please save the important Sternberg Museum biological collections
Dear Dr. Shaffer, Dr. Eckerson and University of Nebraska Regents;
It has come to our attention that there is a plan to shutter the Sternberg Museum at the University of Nebraska Kearney.
As President of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, and on behalf of our members, I strongly urge you to reconsider this decision and preserve the important and irreplaceable historical specimens in this collection for current and future generations of Nebraskans
Our organization was originally founded as a scientific organization by researchers at the University of Nebraska in 1899, making us the oldest continuous state ornithological organization in the country. We continue today in our mission of the study, appreciation and protection of birds.
There is a very strong and growing Ornithology program in the Biology department. Their research, conducted in Nebraska, will be getting international recognition soon as their proposed taxonomic 'split' of the Marsh Wren into two species (Eastern and Western, both residents of Nebraska) is being accepted by the American Ornithological Society, and will permanently impact the understanding of bird taxonomy.
Collections like the ones at UNK and the the State Museum in Morrill Hall are extremely important for not only the education of students and citizens in Nebraska, but for the potential for scientific research. Advances in molecular sequencing technologies now make the extraction and study of DNA from historical specimens possible. These collections from the state of Nebraska over the past century hold secrets and stories that can never be studied and revealed if destroyed.
In September, NOU held our Fall Meeting on the UNK campus with nearly 100 attendees, including UNK faculty, undergraduate and graduate students from UNK and UNL. Dr Letitia Reichart, co-chair of Biology was our keynote speaker. Several students from UNL, UNK and as far as Univ of Wyoming presented scientific research at this meeting. One of the most interesting presentations was by Peggy Huss, a student in the Biology department and ornithology program at UNK. She is painstakingly restoring the avian collection at UNK that has been neglected for decades to preserve this important natural history of our state. New specimens are also continously being collected as dead birds are found, catalouged and preserved.
These collections owned by the University of Nebraska system are important for not only the education of students from across the state that attend, but also the citizens of this state that visit these museums and for the repository of historical biological materials that cannot be replaced once destroyed.
NOU has maintained a strong association with the University system over the past 127 years and most recently have transferred our archival material from the state museum in Lincoln to UNK. Under my presidency in the past 2.5 years, we have supported the ornithological research at UNK/UNL by providing opportunities for faculty and students to present research related to Nebraska's 472 (soon to be 473, thanks to UNK) bird species and associated habitats that are so important. It is my plan that we will also begin supporting these studies with small research grants in thr near future.
We respectfully ask that you preserve and protect these important historical collections of not only birds, but all the other irreplaceable biological samples contained in these collections.
Sincerely,
Paul L. Pearson, Ph.D
President-Nebraska Ornithologists' Union
--
Paul L. Pearson, PhD
President-Nebraska Ornithologistsâ Union
Omaha, NE
Date: 10/8/26 4:48 am From: Art Check via groups.io <artsbirdbrain...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] FW: Please save the important Sternberg Museum biological collections
Date: 10/7/26 10:23 pm From: Paul L. Pearson via groups.io <Propearson...> Subject: [NEBirds] FW: Please save the important Sternberg Museum biological collections
Here is the email I just sent.Feel free to use it to craft your own message.Thank you!Paul PSent from my Galaxy -------- Original message --------From: propearson <propearson...> Date: 10/8/26 12:21 AM (GMT-06:00) To: <corpsec...>, <eckersonjm...>, <shafferjj...> Cc: Letty Reichart <reichartlm...> Subject: Please save the important Sternberg Museum biological collections Dear Dr. Shaffer, Dr. Eckerson and University of Nebraska Regents;It has come to our attention that there is a plan to shutter the Sternberg Museum at the University of Nebraska Kearney.As President of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, and on behalf of our members, I strongly urge you to reconsider this decision and preserve the important and irreplaceable historical specimens in this collection for current and future generations of NebraskansOur organization was originally founded as a scientific organization by researchers at the University of Nebraska in 1899, making us the oldest continuous state ornithological organization in the country. We continue today in our mission of the study, appreciation and protection of birds.There is a very strong and growing Ornithology program in the Biology department. Their research, conducted in Nebraska, will be getting international recognition soon as their proposed taxonomic 'split' of the Marsh Wren into two species (Eastern and Western, both residents of Nebraska) is being accepted by the American Ornithological Society, and will permanently impact the understanding of bird taxonomy.  Collections like the ones at UNK and the the State Museum in Morrill Hall are extremely important for not only the education of students and citizens in Nebraska, but for the potential for scientific research. Advances in molecular sequencing technologies now make the extraction and study of DNA from historical specimens possible. These collections from the state of Nebraska over the past century hold secrets and stories that can never be studied and revealed if destroyed.In September, NOU held our Fall Meeting on the UNK campus with nearly 100 attendees, including UNK faculty, undergraduate and graduate students from UNK and UNL. Dr Letitia Reichart, co-chair of Biology was our keynote speaker. Several students from UNL, UNK and as far as Univ of Wyoming presented scientific research at this meeting. One of the most interesting presentations was by Peggy Huss, a student in the Biology department and ornithology program at UNK. She is painstakingly restoring the avian collection at UNK that has been neglected for decades to preserve this important natural history of our state. New specimens are also continously being collected as dead birds are found, catalouged and preserved.These collections owned by the University of Nebraska system are important for not only the education of students from across the state that attend, but also the citizens of this state that visit these museums and for the repository of historical biological materials that cannot be replaced once destroyed.NOU has maintained a strong association with the University system over the past 127 years and most recently have transferred our archival material from the state museum in Lincoln to UNK. Under my presidency in the past 2.5 years, we have supported the ornithological research at UNK/UNL by providing opportunities for faculty and students to present research related to Nebraska's 472 (soon to be 473, thanks to UNK) bird species and associated habitats that are so important. It is my plan that we will also begin supporting these studies with small research grants in thr near future.We respectfully ask that you preserve and protect these important historical collections of not only birds, but all the other irreplaceable biological samples contained in these collections.Sincerely,Paul L. Pearson, Ph.DPresident-Nebraska Ornithologists' UnionSent from my Galaxy
Date: 10/7/26 9:28 pm From: Paul L. Pearson via groups.io <Propearson...> Subject: [NEBirds] Help save the UNK Museum Bird Collection-action needed on Oct 8!!!
The Sternberg Museum at UNK is going to be a victim of the ongoing budget cuts to the University of Nebraska system. This includes the bird collection.Saving natural history collections is difficult and apparently there is one part time curator for vertebrates and nothing else in the state of Nebraska -- down from having two curators for birds, two curators for mammals, collections managers for each, etc at the state museum. UNK has a collection that has been long neglected that, as you saw at the Fall Meeting, Peggy Huss and others in the Biology Department are trying to fix up and grow. There is historical material we do not want to lose and new material being gained via methods like salvage. If you are happy with the work the UNK Ornithology program is doing and want to preserve the resources we have for students (especially at such a small and rural institution, please contact the leadership before the Oct 9 Regents Meeting and voice your opinion.Basic science and documentation like this is extremely important, and we saw how these historical collections of birds from NE could now yield DNA and reveal answers to understanding our natural communities.https://ruralradio.com/krvn/news/board-of-regents-to-meet-oct-9-in-kearney/Not to rush or pressure you, but they will be talking about future renovations and plans for the biological sciences building at this Regents meeting on FridayHere is some info:Regents inbox (you can also look up the individual Regents to contact them)<corpsec...> Dr. Julie Shaffer, the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs - <shafferjj...> Janet Eckerson (dean of College of Arts and Sciences <eckersonjm...> take 5 minutes on Thursday to send an email and stress the importance of biological collections to the students of Nebraska and to the future of scientific research in our Universities.Thank you!Paul L. Pearson, Ph.D.President, Nebraska Ornithologistsâ Union
Ian and their friends have a pretty good group of students (and maybe faculty?) working with administration to try to get something done. Theyre tracking window strikes with species, counts, and which buildings are the cause. Sounds like majority of last nights were around the stadium, continuing after sun-up. There is also an iNat project going https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/unl-window-collisions if you want to contribute.
Judson, Lincoln
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini...>
Date: Friday, October 2, 2026 at 14:29
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] window strike victims UNL campus
Hello birders,
Oh my god, Ian N.'s checklist from today at UNL Campus has a horrific number of window strike victims from last night's massive migration. Does anyone know if all these birds were next to the same or different buildings? Are they still there? SOMETHING needs to happen to prevent this carnage in the future!
Here's a link to Ian's checklist:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S398349951
Thanks Tobin and Brody for the reply and a huge thanks to everyone who is documenting this grim situation and attempting to mitigate it! Â It's shocking that 40 victim compilation pic is from a single building! Â Perhaps a story in the Daily Nebraskan featuring Ian's eye-opening pics would help to raise awareness to this plight and desperately needed action? Â Lincoln probably should join the national Lights Out campaign for nights with high migration numbers predicted on Birdcast as the night with this mass mortality event was.
-Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln On Friday, October 2, 2026 at 03:43:38 PM CDT, Brody via groups.io <brodybiberdorf...> wrote:
This was all just memorial stadium. This is a photo Ian took of their camera roll after photographing all the birds.
The yellow rail is likely gone and should not be looked for. It was in a very dangerous spot where it could easily be spooked and fly into windows.
Here is the total tallyNashville warbler: 3Lincolnâs sparrow: 15Clay colored sparrow: 5swamp sparrow: 1Common yellowthroat: 4Chimney swift: 2orange crowned warbler: 5gray catbird: 1Virginia rail: 1Yellow rail: 1Sedge wren: 1mourning warbler: 1these are birds that were either dead or looked severely stunned/in decline because of a strike. just from last night at one building
On Fri, Oct 2, 2026, 2:29â¯PM flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini...> wrote:
Hello birders,Oh my god, Ian N.'s checklist from today at UNL Campus has a horrific number of window strike victims from last night's massive migration. Does anyone know if all these birds were next to the same or different buildings? Are they still there? SOMETHING needs to happen to prevent this carnage in the future!Here's a link to Ian's checklist:https://ebird.org/checklist/S398349951 Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
Date: 10/3/26 6:27 pm From: cronakelsey via groups.io <cronakelsey...> Subject: [NEBirds] Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Banding Report - Wildcat Hills Station 9/29/2026 - 10/3/2026
Hello birders!
**
**
Checking in with a weekly report from the Wildcat Hills banding station. This week was windy and cold, but a few days with perfect weather let us break a record of total birds banded. I banded 198 birds this week of 21 different species, including one new species!
**
**
Red Crossbill: 76
Pine Siskin: 40
Cassinâs Finch: 15
Audubonâs Warbler: 14
House Finch: 12
Oregon Junco: 10
Red-breasted Nuthatch: 7
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 3
White-crowned Sparrow (Gambelâs): 3
Spotted Towhee: 3
Evening Grosbeak: 3
Black-capped Chickadee: 2
Townsendâs Solitaire: 2
Orange-crowned Warbler: 2
Chipping Sparrow: 2
Lesser Goldfinch: 2
Pygmy Nuthatch: 1
White-winged Junco: 1 *new species*
**
**
The station had some visitors this week from three elementary schools who got to see some very busy banding days! The one new species banded this week was a White-winged Junco, and another exciting catch were three Evening Grosbeaks captured this morning! After closing the nets three to four more unbanded Evening Grosbeaks show up at the feeders. Lastly, a Sharp-shinned Hawk managed to get caught in the nets but was unbanded.
**
**
For the final week of banding at Wildcat Hills, the station will be open (weather permitting) 10/4 - 10/5 and 10/8 - 10/10. Nets will open at 6:45am and will close at 12:45pm. Come get your visits in while you can!
Date: 10/3/26 3:02 pm From: Kianna Burtle via groups.io <kiannaburtle...> Subject: [NEBirds] Chadron State Park Week 5 Banding Recap (9/29-10/3)
NEBirders,
It was a huge migration week for the area with many Townsendâs Solitaires and Ruby-crowned Kinglets moving through! However, the station was a bit slower because of some strong winds causing early closures. Next week is the last week the station will be open and Iâm excited to see what birds will come next!
Here are this weeks totals:
Migration is at itâs peak so come by and see what birds are coming through! The station will be open this week Tuesday through Saturday (weather permitting) and is now located at the Campground trailhead across from the tennis court in Chadron State Park! Anyone is welcome to visit at any time while the nets are open from 6:40am-12:40pm (weather permitting), hope to see you there!
Kianna Burtle
Bander, Chadron State Park
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Date: 10/3/26 11:37 am From: Thomas Labedz via groups.io <telabedz...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] window strike victims UNL campus
Campus Birders and others,
In the June 2020 Nebraska Bird Review I summarized window mortalities of 87
bird species on the UNL city campus. The paper is available on Digital
Commons (link below).
Over my many years at UNL I found it very, very difficult to get any but
the lowest levels of admin to even acknowledge there is a problem. There is
a transient population (students) on campus and I think the admin knows if
they can postpone action long enough the noisemakers will be gone. In my
paper I go building by building with descriptions of what is going on. This
situation is not unique to UNL, it occurs everywhere in the world, is
documented in many places, continues to be documented, and has likely
happened as far back as humans putting windows in buildings. My only
success, and I'm not really sure it wasn't already in play, was when I
suggested bird-safe glass on the new engineering building at 17th & Vine
and the engineering link to Nebraska Hall. Unfortunately, that glass was
installed only at second floor and up levels. The ground floor was left
with standard glass, fatal glass. While engineering was using bird-safe
glass, athletics was not when building at the same time. I was finding dead
birds before that construction was completed. A past impediment to getting
better designs was the arrogance of architects who didn't want anyone
interfering with their artistic creativity. Also, biology, ecology, and
many natural science classes are not required by architecture programs.
Thankfully, over the years, that has changed and research into bird-safe
glass has advanced enormously. There is no reason bird-safe glass can't be
considered for glass facades on buildings. That includes the upcoming
renovations of that great temple on campus, the temple where many Nebraskan
go to worship seven or eight times a year and seem very willing to
contribute a tithe. The athletic department seems to have deep pockets and
will likely only do what maximizes its profits. But yes, apply pressure.
I have dissected and prepared research specimens from over 1000 window
strike birds. Here is what happens as they die. NO, there are no broken
necks. Yes, there is severe concussion and interna-cranial brain bleeding.
Light hits that leave the birds active and alert likely will recover, that
is unless the campus cats get them first (they encourage campus cats with
feeding stations, but that's another bird death story). More severe hits
that do not kill the birds, birds leaning to one side, swollen eye(s),
unable to stand, or otherwise debilitated are likely undergoing a brain
bleed that is putting pressure on the brain. These likely will not survive
on their own, the pressure will continue to build until neural function
ceases. These likely will not do well in captive care either. But I am not
a veterinarian. This is a spectrum of injury and I think swamping wildlife
care facilities might increase pressure to change windows and reduce the
mortality. Really severe hits result in broken beaks, fractured skulls,
broken coracoids and sternum, and sometimes dislodged internal organs. Even
in these severe hits the neck does not break, it is held in an S shape in
flight and flexes with the impact.
I'm not great at using social media, but think it might help in gaining
awareness. As might linking with campus organizations at other schools to
bring collective pressure to the architects and construction companies. UNL
has administrative offices that approve and supervise construction on
campus. By isn't bird-safe glass required on all new and remodel work on
all campuses?
Thomas Labedz, Lincoln
PS - That yellow rail would have been a lifer for me, but not how I want to
see one.
On Sat, Oct 3, 2026 at 10:31â¯AM Moni via groups.io <musasz=
<neb.rr.com...> wrote:
> Horrible news from Memorial Stadium. Thanks for documenting it. Very
> important first step.
>
> Some other thoughts regarding getting the word out and changing light use
> on campus.
>
> How about getting those photos out on social media, including where they
> were killed. Make sure to include FB for the older folks.:) Would be good
> if we could figure out what to ask people to do??
>
> Sustain UNL is a campus group that had several students working on this
> issue last year. Might check with them. Write a letter and send it as a
> letter to the editor to the Daily Nebraskan and the Lincoln Journal-Star.
> I know thatâs old school but old people still read the paper.
>
> Make an appointment with the AD. Talk to Matt Rhule. Research other
> campuses. There might be some great examples of lighting stadiums without
> harming migrating birds. It would take a group of us to do all these
> things. But who better than birders to do it. Count me in.
>
> Moni
>
> p.s. If I could get the photos and the list, I could send this on to
> Sustain UNL. I know at least one young woman there.
>
> On Oct 3, 2026, at 7:54â¯AM, flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini=
> <yahoo.com...> wrote:
>
> Thanks Tobin and Brody for the reply and a huge thanks to everyone who is
> documenting this grim situation and attempting to mitigate it! It's
> shocking that 40 victim compilation pic is from a single building! Perhaps
> a story in the Daily Nebraskan featuring Ian's eye-opening pics would help
> to raise awareness for this plight and desperately needed action? Lincoln
> probably should join the national Lights Out campaign for nights with high
> migration numbers predicted on Birdcast as the night with this mass
> mortality event was.
>
> -Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 10/3/26 8:32 am From: Moni via groups.io <musasz...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] window strike victims UNL campus
Horrible news from Memorial Stadium. Thanks for documenting it. Very important first step.
Some other thoughts regarding getting the word out and changing light use on campus.
How about getting those photos out on social media, including where they were killed. Make sure to include FB for the older folks.:) Would be good if we could figure out what to ask people to do??
Sustain UNL is a campus group that had several students working on this issue last year. Might check with them. Write a letter and send it as a letter to the editor to the Daily Nebraskan and the Lincoln Journal-Star. I know thatâs old school but old people still read the paper.
Make an appointment with the AD. Talk to Matt Rhule. Research other campuses. There might be some great examples of lighting stadiums without harming migrating birds. It would take a group of us to do all these things. But who better than birders to do it. Count me in.
Moni
p.s. If I could get the photos and the list, I could send this on to Sustain UNL. I know at least one young woman there.
> On Oct 3, 2026, at 7:54â¯AM, flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini...> wrote:
>
> Thanks Tobin and Brody for the reply and a huge thanks to everyone who is documenting this grim situation and attempting to mitigate it! It's shocking that 40 victim compilation pic is from a single building! Perhaps a story in the Daily Nebraskan featuring Ian's eye-opening pics would help to raise awareness for this plight and desperately needed action? Lincoln probably should join the national Lights Out campaign for nights with high migration numbers predicted on Birdcast as the night with this mass mortality event was.
>
> -Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
>
Date: 10/3/26 5:54 am From: flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] window strike victims UNL campus
Thanks Tobin and Brody for the reply and a huge thanks to everyone who is documenting this grim situation and attempting to mitigate it! Â It's shocking that 40 victim compilation pic is from a single building! Â Perhaps a story in the Daily Nebraskan featuring Ian's eye-opening pics would help to raise awareness for this plight and desperately needed action? Â Lincoln probably should join the national Lights Out campaign for nights with high migration numbers predicted on Birdcast as the night with this mass mortality event was.
This was all just memorial stadium. This is a photo Ian took of their
camera roll after photographing all the birds.
The yellow rail is likely gone and should not be looked for. It was in a
very dangerous spot where it could easily be spooked and fly into windows.
Here is the total tally
Nashville warbler: 3
Lincolnâs sparrow: 15
Clay colored sparrow: 5
swamp sparrow: 1
Common yellowthroat: 4
Chimney swift: 2
orange crowned warbler: 5
gray catbird: 1
Virginia rail: 1
Yellow rail: 1
Sedge wren: 1
mourning warbler: 1
these are birds that were either dead or looked severely stunned/in decline
because of a strike. just from last night at one building
On Fri, Oct 2, 2026, 2:29â¯PM flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> Hello birders,
> Oh my god, Ian N.'s checklist from today at UNL Campus has a horrific
> number of window strike victims from last night's massive migration. Does
> anyone know if all these birds were next to the same or different
> buildings? Are they still there? SOMETHING needs to happen to prevent
> this carnage in the future!
> Here's a link to Ian's checklist:
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S398349951 >
> Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
>
>
Date: 10/2/26 12:56 pm From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] window strike victims UNL campus
From discussions on Discord, these were all at or around Memorial Stadium
(which keeps its lights on all night for some reason!). The UNL Bird Club
is currently contacting maintenance staff and athletic department staff to
address this. I won't speak for them, but I'm sure they will work hard to
attempt to fix this issue.
On Fri, Oct 2, 2026 at 2:29â¯PM flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> Hello birders,
> Oh my god, Ian N.'s checklist from today at UNL Campus has a horrific
> number of window strike victims from last night's massive migration. Does
> anyone know if all these birds were next to the same or different
> buildings? Are they still there? SOMETHING needs to happen to prevent
> this carnage in the future!
> Here's a link to Ian's checklist:
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S398349951 >
> Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
>
>
>
Hello birders,
Oh my god, Ian N.'s checklist from today at UNL Campus has a horrific number of window strike victims from last night's massive migration. Â Does anyone know if all these birds were next to the same or different buildings? Â Are they still there? Â SOMETHING needs to happen to prevent this carnage in the future!
Here's a link to Ian's checklist:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S398349951
Date: 10/1/26 10:19 am From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: [NEBirds] flickers galore
With the first strong, cool north wind in a while, lots of flickers coming through (Valentine area). Â Males, females, yellow-shafted, red-shafted and hybrids. Â I particularly like the male hybrids with red front and aft. Â
On Thu, Oct 1, 2026 at 8:59â¯AM Rick Wright <birdaz...> wrote:
> The Crane Trust has one out their back door.
> Best wishes from Brittany,
>
> *Rick Wright, Birds and Art <https://ventbird.com/rick-wright> *tours
> with Victor Emanuel Nature Tours <https://ventbird.com/> >
> Books and book chapters
> <https://smile.amazon.com/Rick-Wright/e/B00HDUI4H6?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1637440375&sr=8-1> >
>
> HOMES: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior
> SHAME: Superior, Huron, America, Michigan, Erie
>
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 10:23â¯PM Bill Kaempfer via groups.io
> <William.Kaempfer...> wrote:
>
>> It seems to me that I did see an artificial swift roost somewhere. It
>> was a hollow concrete tree stump with the outside painted to look like bark
>> and stood about 12-15 feet tall. Wisconsin maybe?
>>
>> Bill Kaempfer
>> Safety Harbor, FL
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Don and
>> Shirley Maas via groups.io <snowbirds2012...>
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 30, 2026 2:52 PM
>> *To:* Nebirds <NEBirds...>
>> *Subject:* Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
>>
>> [External email - use caution]
>>
>> Maybe itâs time to preserve or build chimneys for Swifts much like we do
>> for
>> Bluebirds and Wooid Ducks.
>>
>> Don Maas
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sep 30, 2026 at 6:02 AM, <Jerry Toll via groups.io
>> <carolnhattie...>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks for the reminder! We see lots of Chimney Swifts migrating at the
>> Hitchcock Hawkwatch. Also the Florence area business district hosts roost
>> for them.
>>
>> Jerry Toll
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 6:04â¯AM flyingcarlini via groups.io
>> <flyingcarlini...> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks William, Diane, and Robin for the reminder that September and
>> early October is the time to view impressive numbers of Chimney Swifts
>> streaming into our local chimneys to roost at night. The big old brick
>> chimneys that shelter anywhere from dozens to hundreds of CHSWs moving
>> through this time of year won't be around forever and unfortunately the new
>> chimneys exclude entry, so It's great to document these crucial chimney
>> roost sites on eBird and bring to light a largely out of sight/out of mind
>> phenomenon featuring a vulnerable species that's in decline.
>>
>> Interesting to think of them entering in groups of 4-6, maybe family
>> groups? Some of our photos have shown rows in flight of similarly sized
>> groups during pre-entry chimney flyovers.
>>
>> Regarding their hesitation to enter a chimney, in addition to entry
>> likely being slowed as other arrivals clear out of the way, wind seems to
>> be a factor that can result in birds aborting entry attempts before finally
>> dropping in. Sometimes it diminishes at nightfall, so maybe some delay
>> their entry? Last year during a large flock entry one particular evening,
>> several birds actually whacked HARD against the lip of the chimney while
>> trying to enter (presumably inexperienced juvs) apparently due to wind and
>> possibly a subpar approach direction of the circling flock. It looked
>> brutal but they all appeared to ricochet off and stay airborne somehow. 2
>> nights ago, we tallied 285 entering the spacious chimney at Westminster
>> church on South St. & Sheridan Blvd. during calm conditions which allowed
>> them to more easily hit the bullseye and drop straight down in an orderly
>> controlled flow.
>>
>> -Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 09:58:32 PM CDT, Robin Harding via
>> groups.io <pine2siskin4...> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Nebraska birders,
>>
>> I had never watched Chimney Swifts go to their night roost. It was very
>> cool to experience part of it with Bill Flack on September 24. It's too
>> bad that we couldn't stay until the last swift descended into the chimney.
>> I was unable to go back the next evening but I did this evening, September
>> 26, arriving at about 7:10, when there were only five swifts circling the
>> chimney. For a while, I thought that the swifts were using a different
>> chimney this evening or that they had migrated south.
>>
>> The number of swifts slowly grew and they continued to circle the
>> church's chimney. I thought that I saw a few swifts drop down into the
>> chimney but as Bill wrote, it was difficult to determine if the swifts were
>> going into the chimney or dropping down behind it. It was hard to estimate
>> the total number of swifts since I couldn't see the whole flock but I
>> estimated 60 swifts. The swirling mass of swifts continued. When it was
>> almost too dark for me to see the birds, it looked like many swifts were
>> dropping into the chimney but many were still circling. When I stopped
>> hearing them twitter, I assumed that they were all in the chimney. It was
>> about 8:00.
>>
>> My experience was very similar to Bill's and Diane's.
>>
>> Robin Harding
>> Shelton, Nebr.
>>
>> On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:11â¯PM dt via groups.io <dtandelsie=
>> <yahoo.com...> wrote:
>>
>> William, this actually sounds similar to what I saw in Gothenburg on
>> August 29th. The darker it got, the more rapidly they disappeared down the
>> chimney, but as some descended, others flew by and circled around,
>> eventually also descending. I watched approx. 200 enter the single chimney
>> in approximately 17 minutes. https://ebird.org/checkli.st/S388114605 >> Quite a sight ! It would be great if birders who live near these chimneys
>> used as migration roosts monitored them in late summer early fall!
>> Diane Thomas in Laramie, WY
>>
>> Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
>> <https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_315_SearchOrgConquer_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002039&af_sub5=C01_Email_Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=0c38e4b0-a27e-40f9-a211-f4e2de32ab91&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?<id...>&listing=search_organize_conquer> >>
>> On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:36 PM, William Flack via groups.io
>> <sparvophile...> wrote:
>>
>> On Thursday evening, Sept. 24, Robin Harding and I watched *Chimney
>> Swifts* circling over the block with St. Luke's and Central Elementary.
>> I estimated the size of the flock as c. 200 birds. The orbit sometimes
>> moved away, but generally included the St. Luke's chimney; and often, as
>> swifts flew over the chimney, they fluttered a bit or dropped as though
>> checking it out. However, it didn't appear that they were going down the
>> chimney in any numbers. (It was hard to tell whether birds went down the
>> chimney or behind the church, but it appeared that most were doing the
>> latter.) Unfortunately, we had to get to a movie at the World at 7:30, so
>> left the swifts at 7:23, before we could see if they'd actually go down the
>> chimney in numbers.
>>
>>
>>
>> The following evening (Sept. 25), I returned to the site, arriving at
>> about 7:30. The swifts were again circling, but there numbers appeared to
>> be about half of what they were the previous nightâperhaps a different
>> flock, or perhaps many had already gone to roost. This time, the loop in
>> which they were flying always seemed to include the space right above the
>> church. Again, birds passing over the chimney would drop down and flutter a
>> bit, as though checking it out, but would usually resume circling. After a
>> while, though, it appeared that they were starting to go down. It looked
>> like 4â6 birds would drop down into the chimney; and, after that, birds
>> would dip down to check, but no one else would descend for a little while,
>> until another handful went down. My conjecture is that birds that flew down
>> the chimney took some time to find footholds, and until they did, were
>> beating their wings; if additional birds had flown down during this time,
>> they would've interfered with one another, and possibly the whole bunch
>> would've fallen to the bottom. Once this started, the number of circling
>> birds seemed to decline surprisingly quickly, and the last of them were
>> gone by 8 p.m.; presumably, down the chimney, though it didn't seem as
>> though I'd seen that many going into it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Other accounts make it sound as though large numbers of swifts pour down
>> a chimney, unlike my birds, which seemed to go down a handful at a time.
>> Maybe the St. Luke's flue is narrower than the brick chimney would suggest,
>> and there's not room for all that many birds to go down at once?
>>
>>
>>
>> William Flack
>>
>> Kearney
>>
>>
>>
>>
On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 10:23â¯PM Bill Kaempfer via groups.io
<William.Kaempfer...> wrote:
> It seems to me that I did see an artificial swift roost somewhere. It was
> a hollow concrete tree stump with the outside painted to look like bark and
> stood about 12-15 feet tall. Wisconsin maybe?
>
> Bill Kaempfer
> Safety Harbor, FL
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Don and
> Shirley Maas via groups.io <snowbirds2012...>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 30, 2026 2:52 PM
> *To:* Nebirds <NEBirds...>
> *Subject:* Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
>
> [External email - use caution]
>
> Maybe itâs time to preserve or build chimneys for Swifts much like we do
> for
> Bluebirds and Wooid Ducks.
>
> Don Maas
>
>
>
> On Sep 30, 2026 at 6:02 AM, <Jerry Toll via groups.io
> <carolnhattie...>> wrote:
>
>
>
> Thanks for the reminder! We see lots of Chimney Swifts migrating at the
> Hitchcock Hawkwatch. Also the Florence area business district hosts roost
> for them.
>
> Jerry Toll
>
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 6:04â¯AM flyingcarlini via groups.io
> <flyingcarlini...> wrote:
>
> Thanks William, Diane, and Robin for the reminder that September and early
> October is the time to view impressive numbers of Chimney Swifts streaming
> into our local chimneys to roost at night. The big old brick chimneys that
> shelter anywhere from dozens to hundreds of CHSWs moving through this time
> of year won't be around forever and unfortunately the new chimneys exclude
> entry, so It's great to document these crucial chimney roost sites on eBird
> and bring to light a largely out of sight/out of mind phenomenon featuring
> a vulnerable species that's in decline.
>
> Interesting to think of them entering in groups of 4-6, maybe family
> groups? Some of our photos have shown rows in flight of similarly sized
> groups during pre-entry chimney flyovers.
>
> Regarding their hesitation to enter a chimney, in addition to entry likely
> being slowed as other arrivals clear out of the way, wind seems to be a
> factor that can result in birds aborting entry attempts before finally
> dropping in. Sometimes it diminishes at nightfall, so maybe some delay
> their entry? Last year during a large flock entry one particular evening,
> several birds actually whacked HARD against the lip of the chimney while
> trying to enter (presumably inexperienced juvs) apparently due to wind and
> possibly a subpar approach direction of the circling flock. It looked
> brutal but they all appeared to ricochet off and stay airborne somehow. 2
> nights ago, we tallied 285 entering the spacious chimney at Westminster
> church on South St. & Sheridan Blvd. during calm conditions which allowed
> them to more easily hit the bullseye and drop straight down in an orderly
> controlled flow.
>
> -Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 09:58:32 PM CDT, Robin Harding via
> groups.io <pine2siskin4...> wrote:
>
>
>
> Nebraska birders,
>
> I had never watched Chimney Swifts go to their night roost. It was very
> cool to experience part of it with Bill Flack on September 24. It's too
> bad that we couldn't stay until the last swift descended into the chimney.
> I was unable to go back the next evening but I did this evening, September
> 26, arriving at about 7:10, when there were only five swifts circling the
> chimney. For a while, I thought that the swifts were using a different
> chimney this evening or that they had migrated south.
>
> The number of swifts slowly grew and they continued to circle the church's
> chimney. I thought that I saw a few swifts drop down into the chimney but
> as Bill wrote, it was difficult to determine if the swifts were going into
> the chimney or dropping down behind it. It was hard to estimate the total
> number of swifts since I couldn't see the whole flock but I estimated 60
> swifts. The swirling mass of swifts continued. When it was almost too
> dark for me to see the birds, it looked like many swifts were dropping into
> the chimney but many were still circling. When I stopped hearing them
> twitter, I assumed that they were all in the chimney. It was about 8:00.
>
> My experience was very similar to Bill's and Diane's.
>
> Robin Harding
> Shelton, Nebr.
>
> On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:11â¯PM dt via groups.io <dtandelsie=
> <yahoo.com...> wrote:
>
> William, this actually sounds similar to what I saw in Gothenburg on
> August 29th. The darker it got, the more rapidly they disappeared down the
> chimney, but as some descended, others flew by and circled around,
> eventually also descending. I watched approx. 200 enter the single chimney
> in approximately 17 minutes. https://ebird.org/checkli.st/S388114605 > Quite a sight ! It would be great if birders who live near these chimneys
> used as migration roosts monitored them in late summer early fall!
> Diane Thomas in Laramie, WY
>
> Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
> <https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_315_SearchOrgConquer_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002039&af_sub5=C01_Email_Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=0c38e4b0-a27e-40f9-a211-f4e2de32ab91&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?<id...>&listing=search_organize_conquer> >
> On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:36 PM, William Flack via groups.io
> <sparvophile...> wrote:
>
> On Thursday evening, Sept. 24, Robin Harding and I watched *Chimney
> Swifts* circling over the block with St. Luke's and Central Elementary. I
> estimated the size of the flock as c. 200 birds. The orbit sometimes moved
> away, but generally included the St. Luke's chimney; and often, as swifts
> flew over the chimney, they fluttered a bit or dropped as though checking
> it out. However, it didn't appear that they were going down the chimney in
> any numbers. (It was hard to tell whether birds went down the chimney or
> behind the church, but it appeared that most were doing the latter.)
> Unfortunately, we had to get to a movie at the World at 7:30, so left the
> swifts at 7:23, before we could see if they'd actually go down the chimney
> in numbers.
>
>
>
> The following evening (Sept. 25), I returned to the site, arriving at
> about 7:30. The swifts were again circling, but there numbers appeared to
> be about half of what they were the previous nightâperhaps a different
> flock, or perhaps many had already gone to roost. This time, the loop in
> which they were flying always seemed to include the space right above the
> church. Again, birds passing over the chimney would drop down and flutter a
> bit, as though checking it out, but would usually resume circling. After a
> while, though, it appeared that they were starting to go down. It looked
> like 4â6 birds would drop down into the chimney; and, after that, birds
> would dip down to check, but no one else would descend for a little while,
> until another handful went down. My conjecture is that birds that flew down
> the chimney took some time to find footholds, and until they did, were
> beating their wings; if additional birds had flown down during this time,
> they would've interfered with one another, and possibly the whole bunch
> would've fallen to the bottom. Once this started, the number of circling
> birds seemed to decline surprisingly quickly, and the last of them were
> gone by 8 p.m.; presumably, down the chimney, though it didn't seem as
> though I'd seen that many going into it.
>
>
>
> Other accounts make it sound as though large numbers of swifts pour down a
> chimney, unlike my birds, which seemed to go down a handful at a time.
> Maybe the St. Luke's flue is narrower than the brick chimney would suggest,
> and there's not room for all that many birds to go down at once?
>
>
>
> William Flack
>
> Kearney
>
>
>
>
Date: 9/30/26 5:23 pm From: Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
This is why I enjoy NEBirds . Sometimes opens up. Interesting discussions As an old Bluebird trail monitor I know their success Locally here is AZ there has been a lot of success in applying this to Lucy WarblersLess success in artificial boxes for martins who nest in squares.Back to square one on thatDon MaasMesa AZ
âIf you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rules of fools.              PlatoâYou can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.â
Don & Shirley MaasThe Maasâs have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 5:06 PM, dt via groups.io <dtandelsie...> wrote:
I love this discussion! It would be great to document as many currently used chimneys as we can to try to ensure their preservation, and perhaps by looking at metrics of those, we could get a better idea of what makes a good migration roost. Ebird would be a good source to start with to look for observations of large numbers of CHSW between August and October. Here's a good article I found. https://www.columbia-audubon.org/birds-in-big-numbers-migratory-chimney-swift-roosts/
Diane Thomas in Laramie
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 6:25 PM, Art Check via groups.io<artsbirdbrain...> wrote:
I have read mixed reviews about people who have attempted to build towers for chimney swifts. I read that sometimes wooden towers donât seem to attract them or at least for breeding purposes, as well as a brick chimney might?Regarding Donâs comment about building chimneys for them. Iâm curious what people have done and what kind of luck theyâve had. Iâm also curious about how high realistically a chimney has to be in order for it to be effective. I know there are resources out there, but just didnât know if people had personal experience with this. great discussion and maybe something people can actually do something about like putting up bluebird houses or wood boxes or Martin houses.ThanksArt Check,Nevada, Iowa
On Sep 30, 2026, at 3:23â¯PM, Bill Kaempfer via groups.io <William.Kaempfer...> wrote:
 It seems to me that I did see an artificial swift roost somewhere. It was a hollow concrete tree stump with the outside painted to look like bark and stood about 12-15 feet tall. Wisconsin maybe?
Bill KaempferSafety Harbor, FL
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Don and Shirley Maas via groups.io <snowbirds2012...>
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 2:52 PM
To: Nebirds <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
[External email - use caution]
Maybe itâs time to preserve or build chimneys for Swifts much like we do forBluebirds and Wooid Ducks.
Don Maas
On Sep 30, 2026 at 6:02 AM, <Jerry Toll via groups.io> wrote:
Thanks for the reminder! We see lots of Chimney Swifts migrating at the Hitchcock Hawkwatch. Also the Florence area business district hosts roost for them.
Jerry Toll
On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 6:04â¯AM flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini...> wrote:
Thanks William, Diane, and Robin for the reminder that September and early October is the time to view impressive numbers of Chimney Swifts streaming into our local chimneys to roost at night. The big old brick chimneys that shelter anywhere from dozens to hundreds of CHSWs moving through this time of year won't be around forever and unfortunately the new chimneys exclude entry, so It's great to document these crucial chimney roost sites on eBird and bring to light a largely out of sight/out of mind phenomenon featuring a vulnerable species that's in decline.
Interesting to think of them entering in groups of 4-6, maybe family groups? Some of our photos have shown rows in flight of similarly sized groups during pre-entry chimney flyovers.
Regarding their hesitation to enter a chimney, in addition to entry likely being slowed as other arrivals clear out of the way, wind seems to be a factor that can result in birds aborting entry attempts before finally dropping in. Sometimes it diminishes at nightfall, so maybe some delay their entry?  Last year during a large flock entry one particular evening, several birds actually whacked HARD against the lip of the chimney while trying to enter (presumably inexperienced juvs) apparently due to wind and possibly a subpar approach direction of the circling flock. It looked brutal but they all appeared to ricochet off and stay airborne somehow.  2 nights ago, we tallied 285 entering the spacious chimney at Westminster church on South St. & Sheridan Blvd. during calm conditions which allowed them to more easily hit the bullseye and drop straight down in an orderly controlled flow.Â
-Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
On Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 09:58:32 PM CDT, Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> wrote:
Nebraska birders,
I had never watched Chimney Swifts go to their night roost. It was very cool to experience part of it with Bill Flack on September 24. It's too bad that we couldn't stay until the last swift descended into the chimney. I was unable to go back the next evening but I did this evening, September 26, arriving at about 7:10, when there were only five swifts circling the chimney. For a while, I thought that the swifts were using a different chimney this evening or that they had migrated south.
The number of swifts slowly grew and they continued to circle the church's chimney. I thought that I saw a few swifts drop down into the chimney but as Bill wrote, it was difficult to determine if the swifts were going into the chimney or dropping down behind it. It was hard to estimate the total number of swifts since I couldn't see the whole flock but I estimated 60 swifts. The swirling mass of swifts continued. When it was almost too dark for me to see the birds, it looked like many swifts were dropping into the chimney but many were still circling. When I stopped hearing them twitter, I assumed that they were all in the chimney. It was about 8:00. Â
My experience was very similar to Bill's and Diane's. Â
Robin Harding
Shelton, Nebr.
On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:11â¯PM dt via groups.io <dtandelsie...> wrote:
William, this actually sounds similar to what I saw in Gothenburg on August 29th. The darker it got, the more rapidly they disappeared down the chimney, but as some descended, others flew by and circled around, eventually also descending. I watched approx. 200 enter the single chimney in approximately 17 minutes. https://ebird.org/checkli.st/S388114605 Quite a sight ! It would be great if birders who live near these chimneys used as migration roosts monitored them in late summer early fall!
Diane Thomas in Laramie, WY
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:36 PM, William Flack via groups.io<sparvophile...> wrote:
On Thursday evening, Sept. 24, Robin Harding and I watchedChimney Swifts circling over the block with St. Luke's and Central Elementary. I estimated the size of the flock as c. 200 birds. The orbit sometimes moved away, but generally included the St. Luke's chimney; and often, as swifts flew over the chimney, they fluttered a bit or dropped as though checking it out. However, it didn't appear that they were going down the chimney in any numbers. (It was hard to tell whether birds went down the chimney or behind the church, but it appeared that most were doing the latter.) Unfortunately, we had to get to a movie at the World at 7:30, so left the swifts at 7:23, before we could see if they'd actually go down the chimney in numbers.
Â
The following evening (Sept. 25), I returned to the site, arriving at about 7:30. The swifts were again circling, but there numbers appeared to be about half of what they were the previous nightâperhaps a different flock, or perhaps many had already gone to roost. This time, the loop in which they were flying always seemed to include the space right above the church. Again, birds passing over the chimney would drop down and flutter a bit, as though checking it out, but would usually resume circling. After a while, though, it appeared that they were starting to go down. It looked like 4â6 birds would drop down into the chimney; and, after that, birds would dip down to check, but no one else would descend for a little while, until another handful went down. My conjecture is that birds that flew down the chimney took some time to find footholds, and until they did, were beating their wings; if additional birds had flown down during this time, they would've interfered with one another, and possibly the whole bunch would've fallen to the bottom. Once this started, the number of circling birds seemed to decline surprisingly quickly, and the last of them were gone by 8 p.m.; presumably, down the chimney, though it didn't seem as though I'd seen that many going into it.
Â
Other accounts make it sound as though large numbers of swifts pour down a chimney, unlike my birds, which seemed to go down a handful at a time. Maybe the St. Luke's flue is narrower than the brick chimney would suggest, and there's not room for all that many birds to go down at once?
Date: 9/30/26 5:07 pm From: dt via groups.io <dtandelsie...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
I love this discussion! It would be great to document as many currently used chimneys as we can to try to ensure their preservation, and perhaps by looking at metrics of those, we could get a better idea of what makes a good migration roost. Ebird would be a good source to start with to look for observations of large numbers of CHSW between August and October. Here's a good article I found. https://www.columbia-audubon.org/birds-in-big-numbers-migratory-chimney-swift-roosts/
Diane Thomas in Laramie
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 6:25 PM, Art Check via groups.io<artsbirdbrain...> wrote:
I have read mixed reviews about people who have attempted to build towers for chimney swifts. I read that sometimes wooden towers donât seem to attract them or at least for breeding purposes, as well as a brick chimney might?Regarding Donâs comment about building chimneys for them. Iâm curious what people have done and what kind of luck theyâve had. Iâm also curious about how high realistically a chimney has to be in order for it to be effective. I know there are resources out there, but just didnât know if people had personal experience with this. great discussion and maybe something people can actually do something about like putting up bluebird houses or wood boxes or Martin houses.ThanksArt Check,Nevada, Iowa
On Sep 30, 2026, at 3:23â¯PM, Bill Kaempfer via groups.io <William.Kaempfer...> wrote:
 It seems to me that I did see an artificial swift roost somewhere. It was a hollow concrete tree stump with the outside painted to look like bark and stood about 12-15 feet tall. Wisconsin maybe?
Bill KaempferSafety Harbor, FL
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Don and Shirley Maas via groups.io <snowbirds2012...>
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 2:52 PM
To: Nebirds <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
[External email - use caution]
Maybe itâs time to preserve or build chimneys for Swifts much like we do forBluebirds and Wooid Ducks.
Don Maas
On Sep 30, 2026 at 6:02 AM, <Jerry Toll via groups.io> wrote:
Thanks for the reminder! We see lots of Chimney Swifts migrating at the Hitchcock Hawkwatch. Also the Florence area business district hosts roost for them.
Jerry Toll
On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 6:04â¯AM flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini...> wrote:
Thanks William, Diane, and Robin for the reminder that September and early October is the time to view impressive numbers of Chimney Swifts streaming into our local chimneys to roost at night. The big old brick chimneys that shelter anywhere from dozens to hundreds of CHSWs moving through this time of year won't be around forever and unfortunately the new chimneys exclude entry, so It's great to document these crucial chimney roost sites on eBird and bring to light a largely out of sight/out of mind phenomenon featuring a vulnerable species that's in decline.
Interesting to think of them entering in groups of 4-6, maybe family groups? Some of our photos have shown rows in flight of similarly sized groups during pre-entry chimney flyovers.
Regarding their hesitation to enter a chimney, in addition to entry likely being slowed as other arrivals clear out of the way, wind seems to be a factor that can result in birds aborting entry attempts before finally dropping in. Sometimes it diminishes at nightfall, so maybe some delay their entry?  Last year during a large flock entry one particular evening, several birds actually whacked HARD against the lip of the chimney while trying to enter (presumably inexperienced juvs) apparently due to wind and possibly a subpar approach direction of the circling flock. It looked brutal but they all appeared to ricochet off and stay airborne somehow.  2 nights ago, we tallied 285 entering the spacious chimney at Westminster church on South St. & Sheridan Blvd. during calm conditions which allowed them to more easily hit the bullseye and drop straight down in an orderly controlled flow.Â
-Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
On Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 09:58:32 PM CDT, Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> wrote:
Nebraska birders,
I had never watched Chimney Swifts go to their night roost. It was very cool to experience part of it with Bill Flack on September 24. It's too bad that we couldn't stay until the last swift descended into the chimney. I was unable to go back the next evening but I did this evening, September 26, arriving at about 7:10, when there were only five swifts circling the chimney. For a while, I thought that the swifts were using a different chimney this evening or that they had migrated south.
The number of swifts slowly grew and they continued to circle the church's chimney. I thought that I saw a few swifts drop down into the chimney but as Bill wrote, it was difficult to determine if the swifts were going into the chimney or dropping down behind it. It was hard to estimate the total number of swifts since I couldn't see the whole flock but I estimated 60 swifts. The swirling mass of swifts continued. When it was almost too dark for me to see the birds, it looked like many swifts were dropping into the chimney but many were still circling. When I stopped hearing them twitter, I assumed that they were all in the chimney. It was about 8:00. Â
My experience was very similar to Bill's and Diane's. Â
Robin Harding
Shelton, Nebr.
On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:11â¯PM dt via groups.io <dtandelsie...> wrote:
William, this actually sounds similar to what I saw in Gothenburg on August 29th. The darker it got, the more rapidly they disappeared down the chimney, but as some descended, others flew by and circled around, eventually also descending. I watched approx. 200 enter the single chimney in approximately 17 minutes. https://ebird.org/checkli.st/S388114605 Quite a sight ! It would be great if birders who live near these chimneys used as migration roosts monitored them in late summer early fall!
Diane Thomas in Laramie, WY
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:36 PM, William Flack via groups.io<sparvophile...> wrote:
On Thursday evening, Sept. 24, Robin Harding and I watchedChimney Swifts circling over the block with St. Luke's and Central Elementary. I estimated the size of the flock as c. 200 birds. The orbit sometimes moved away, but generally included the St. Luke's chimney; and often, as swifts flew over the chimney, they fluttered a bit or dropped as though checking it out. However, it didn't appear that they were going down the chimney in any numbers. (It was hard to tell whether birds went down the chimney or behind the church, but it appeared that most were doing the latter.) Unfortunately, we had to get to a movie at the World at 7:30, so left the swifts at 7:23, before we could see if they'd actually go down the chimney in numbers.
Â
The following evening (Sept. 25), I returned to the site, arriving at about 7:30. The swifts were again circling, but there numbers appeared to be about half of what they were the previous nightâperhaps a different flock, or perhaps many had already gone to roost. This time, the loop in which they were flying always seemed to include the space right above the church. Again, birds passing over the chimney would drop down and flutter a bit, as though checking it out, but would usually resume circling. After a while, though, it appeared that they were starting to go down. It looked like 4â6 birds would drop down into the chimney; and, after that, birds would dip down to check, but no one else would descend for a little while, until another handful went down. My conjecture is that birds that flew down the chimney took some time to find footholds, and until they did, were beating their wings; if additional birds had flown down during this time, they would've interfered with one another, and possibly the whole bunch would've fallen to the bottom. Once this started, the number of circling birds seemed to decline surprisingly quickly, and the last of them were gone by 8 p.m.; presumably, down the chimney, though it didn't seem as though I'd seen that many going into it.
Â
Other accounts make it sound as though large numbers of swifts pour down a chimney, unlike my birds, which seemed to go down a handful at a time. Maybe the St. Luke's flue is narrower than the brick chimney would suggest, and there's not room for all that many birds to go down at once?
Date: 9/30/26 2:12 pm From: Thomas Labedz via groups.io <telabedz...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
An artificial chimney swift roost was built on UNL's east campus in Lincoln
and dedicated to the late Dr. Mary Bomberger Brown who championed chimney
swift conservation in Lincoln. Link below. I do not know if it has
successfully attracted any swifts.
Thomas Labedz, Lincoln
News Story | School of Natural Resources | University of NebraskaâLincoln
<https://snr.unl.edu/aboutus/what/newstory.aspx?fid=1139>
On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 3:23â¯PM Bill Kaempfer via groups.io
<William.Kaempfer...> wrote:
> It seems to me that I did see an artificial swift roost somewhere. It was
> a hollow concrete tree stump with the outside painted to look like bark and
> stood about 12-15 feet tall. Wisconsin maybe?
>
> Bill Kaempfer
> Safety Harbor, FL
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Don and
> Shirley Maas via groups.io <snowbirds2012...>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 30, 2026 2:52 PM
> *To:* Nebirds <NEBirds...>
> *Subject:* Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
>
> [External email - use caution]
>
> Maybe itâs time to preserve or build chimneys for Swifts much like we do
> for
> Bluebirds and Wooid Ducks.
>
> Don Maas
>
>
>
> On Sep 30, 2026 at 6:02 AM, <Jerry Toll via groups.io
> <carolnhattie...>> wrote:
>
>
>
> Thanks for the reminder! We see lots of Chimney Swifts migrating at the
> Hitchcock Hawkwatch. Also the Florence area business district hosts roost
> for them.
>
> Jerry Toll
>
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 6:04â¯AM flyingcarlini via groups.io
> <flyingcarlini...> wrote:
>
> Thanks William, Diane, and Robin for the reminder that September and early
> October is the time to view impressive numbers of Chimney Swifts streaming
> into our local chimneys to roost at night. The big old brick chimneys that
> shelter anywhere from dozens to hundreds of CHSWs moving through this time
> of year won't be around forever and unfortunately the new chimneys exclude
> entry, so It's great to document these crucial chimney roost sites on eBird
> and bring to light a largely out of sight/out of mind phenomenon featuring
> a vulnerable species that's in decline.
>
> Interesting to think of them entering in groups of 4-6, maybe family
> groups? Some of our photos have shown rows in flight of similarly sized
> groups during pre-entry chimney flyovers.
>
> Regarding their hesitation to enter a chimney, in addition to entry likely
> being slowed as other arrivals clear out of the way, wind seems to be a
> factor that can result in birds aborting entry attempts before finally
> dropping in. Sometimes it diminishes at nightfall, so maybe some delay
> their entry? Last year during a large flock entry one particular evening,
> several birds actually whacked HARD against the lip of the chimney while
> trying to enter (presumably inexperienced juvs) apparently due to wind and
> possibly a subpar approach direction of the circling flock. It looked
> brutal but they all appeared to ricochet off and stay airborne somehow. 2
> nights ago, we tallied 285 entering the spacious chimney at Westminster
> church on South St. & Sheridan Blvd. during calm conditions which allowed
> them to more easily hit the bullseye and drop straight down in an orderly
> controlled flow.
>
> -Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 09:58:32 PM CDT, Robin Harding via
> groups.io <pine2siskin4...> wrote:
>
>
>
> Nebraska birders,
>
> I had never watched Chimney Swifts go to their night roost. It was very
> cool to experience part of it with Bill Flack on September 24. It's too
> bad that we couldn't stay until the last swift descended into the chimney.
> I was unable to go back the next evening but I did this evening, September
> 26, arriving at about 7:10, when there were only five swifts circling the
> chimney. For a while, I thought that the swifts were using a different
> chimney this evening or that they had migrated south.
>
> The number of swifts slowly grew and they continued to circle the church's
> chimney. I thought that I saw a few swifts drop down into the chimney but
> as Bill wrote, it was difficult to determine if the swifts were going into
> the chimney or dropping down behind it. It was hard to estimate the total
> number of swifts since I couldn't see the whole flock but I estimated 60
> swifts. The swirling mass of swifts continued. When it was almost too
> dark for me to see the birds, it looked like many swifts were dropping into
> the chimney but many were still circling. When I stopped hearing them
> twitter, I assumed that they were all in the chimney. It was about 8:00.
>
> My experience was very similar to Bill's and Diane's.
>
> Robin Harding
> Shelton, Nebr.
>
> On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:11â¯PM dt via groups.io <dtandelsie=
> <yahoo.com...> wrote:
>
> William, this actually sounds similar to what I saw in Gothenburg on
> August 29th. The darker it got, the more rapidly they disappeared down the
> chimney, but as some descended, others flew by and circled around,
> eventually also descending. I watched approx. 200 enter the single chimney
> in approximately 17 minutes. https://ebird.org/checkli.st/S388114605 > Quite a sight ! It would be great if birders who live near these chimneys
> used as migration roosts monitored them in late summer early fall!
> Diane Thomas in Laramie, WY
>
> Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
> <https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_315_SearchOrgConquer_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002039&af_sub5=C01_Email_Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=0c38e4b0-a27e-40f9-a211-f4e2de32ab91&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?<id...>&listing=search_organize_conquer> >
> On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:36 PM, William Flack via groups.io
> <sparvophile...> wrote:
>
> On Thursday evening, Sept. 24, Robin Harding and I watched *Chimney
> Swifts* circling over the block with St. Luke's and Central Elementary. I
> estimated the size of the flock as c. 200 birds. The orbit sometimes moved
> away, but generally included the St. Luke's chimney; and often, as swifts
> flew over the chimney, they fluttered a bit or dropped as though checking
> it out. However, it didn't appear that they were going down the chimney in
> any numbers. (It was hard to tell whether birds went down the chimney or
> behind the church, but it appeared that most were doing the latter.)
> Unfortunately, we had to get to a movie at the World at 7:30, so left the
> swifts at 7:23, before we could see if they'd actually go down the chimney
> in numbers.
>
>
>
> The following evening (Sept. 25), I returned to the site, arriving at
> about 7:30. The swifts were again circling, but there numbers appeared to
> be about half of what they were the previous nightâperhaps a different
> flock, or perhaps many had already gone to roost. This time, the loop in
> which they were flying always seemed to include the space right above the
> church. Again, birds passing over the chimney would drop down and flutter a
> bit, as though checking it out, but would usually resume circling. After a
> while, though, it appeared that they were starting to go down. It looked
> like 4â6 birds would drop down into the chimney; and, after that, birds
> would dip down to check, but no one else would descend for a little while,
> until another handful went down. My conjecture is that birds that flew down
> the chimney took some time to find footholds, and until they did, were
> beating their wings; if additional birds had flown down during this time,
> they would've interfered with one another, and possibly the whole bunch
> would've fallen to the bottom. Once this started, the number of circling
> birds seemed to decline surprisingly quickly, and the last of them were
> gone by 8 p.m.; presumably, down the chimney, though it didn't seem as
> though I'd seen that many going into it.
>
>
>
> Other accounts make it sound as though large numbers of swifts pour down a
> chimney, unlike my birds, which seemed to go down a handful at a time.
> Maybe the St. Luke's flue is narrower than the brick chimney would suggest,
> and there's not room for all that many birds to go down at once?
>
>
>
> William Flack
>
> Kearney
>
>
>
>
Date: 9/30/26 1:23 pm From: Bill Kaempfer via groups.io <William.Kaempfer...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
It seems to me that I did see an artificial swift roost somewhere. It was a hollow concrete tree stump with the outside painted to look like bark and stood about 12-15 feet tall. Wisconsin maybe?
Bill Kaempfer
Safety Harbor, FL
________________________________
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Don and Shirley Maas via groups.io <snowbirds2012...>
Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 2:52 PM
To: Nebirds <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
[External email - use caution]
Maybe itâs time to preserve or build chimneys for Swifts much like we do for
Bluebirds and Wooid Ducks.
Thanks for the reminder! We see lots of Chimney Swifts migrating at the Hitchcock Hawkwatch. Also the Florence area business district hosts roost for them.
Jerry Toll
On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 6:04â¯AM flyingcarlini via groups.io<http://groups.io/> <flyingcarlini...><mailto:<yahoo.com...>> wrote:
Thanks William, Diane, and Robin for the reminder that September and early October is the time to view impressive numbers of Chimney Swifts streaming into our local chimneys to roost at night. The big old brick chimneys that shelter anywhere from dozens to hundreds of CHSWs moving through this time of year won't be around forever and unfortunately the new chimneys exclude entry, so It's great to document these crucial chimney roost sites on eBird and bring to light a largely out of sight/out of mind phenomenon featuring a vulnerable species that's in decline.
Interesting to think of them entering in groups of 4-6, maybe family groups? Some of our photos have shown rows in flight of similarly sized groups during pre-entry chimney flyovers.
Regarding their hesitation to enter a chimney, in addition to entry likely being slowed as other arrivals clear out of the way, wind seems to be a factor that can result in birds aborting entry attempts before finally dropping in. Sometimes it diminishes at nightfall, so maybe some delay their entry? Last year during a large flock entry one particular evening, several birds actually whacked HARD against the lip of the chimney while trying to enter (presumably inexperienced juvs) apparently due to wind and possibly a subpar approach direction of the circling flock. It looked brutal but they all appeared to ricochet off and stay airborne somehow. 2 nights ago, we tallied 285 entering the spacious chimney at Westminster church on South St. & Sheridan Blvd. during calm conditions which allowed them to more easily hit the bullseye and drop straight down in an orderly controlled flow.
I had never watched Chimney Swifts go to their night roost. It was very cool to experience part of it with Bill Flack on September 24. It's too bad that we couldn't stay until the last swift descended into the chimney. I was unable to go back the next evening but I did this evening, September 26, arriving at about 7:10, when there were only five swifts circling the chimney. For a while, I thought that the swifts were using a different chimney this evening or that they had migrated south.
The number of swifts slowly grew and they continued to circle the church's chimney. I thought that I saw a few swifts drop down into the chimney but as Bill wrote, it was difficult to determine if the swifts were going into the chimney or dropping down behind it. It was hard to estimate the total number of swifts since I couldn't see the whole flock but I estimated 60 swifts. The swirling mass of swifts continued. When it was almost too dark for me to see the birds, it looked like many swifts were dropping into the chimney but many were still circling. When I stopped hearing them twitter, I assumed that they were all in the chimney. It was about 8:00.
My experience was very similar to Bill's and Diane's.
Robin Harding
Shelton, Nebr.
On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:11â¯PM dt via groups.io<http://groups.io/> <dtandelsie...><mailto:<yahoo.com...>> wrote:
William, this actually sounds similar to what I saw in Gothenburg on August 29th. The darker it got, the more rapidly they disappeared down the chimney, but as some descended, others flew by and circled around, eventually also descending. I watched approx. 200 enter the single chimney in approximately 17 minutes. https://ebird.org/checkli.st/S388114605 Quite a sight ! It would be great if birders who live near these chimneys used as migration roosts monitored them in late summer early fall!
Diane Thomas in Laramie, WY
On Thursday evening, Sept. 24, Robin Harding and I watched Chimney Swifts circling over the block with St. Luke's and Central Elementary. I estimated the size of the flock as c. 200 birds. The orbit sometimes moved away, but generally included the St. Luke's chimney; and often, as swifts flew over the chimney, they fluttered a bit or dropped as though checking it out. However, it didn't appear that they were going down the chimney in any numbers. (It was hard to tell whether birds went down the chimney or behind the church, but it appeared that most were doing the latter.) Unfortunately, we had to get to a movie at the World at 7:30, so left the swifts at 7:23, before we could see if they'd actually go down the chimney in numbers.
The following evening (Sept. 25), I returned to the site, arriving at about 7:30. The swifts were again circling, but there numbers appeared to be about half of what they were the previous nightâperhaps a different flock, or perhaps many had already gone to roost. This time, the loop in which they were flying always seemed to include the space right above the church. Again, birds passing over the chimney would drop down and flutter a bit, as though checking it out, but would usually resume circling. After a while, though, it appeared that they were starting to go down. It looked like 4â6 birds would drop down into the chimney; and, after that, birds would dip down to check, but no one else would descend for a little while, until another handful went down. My conjecture is that birds that flew down the chimney took some time to find footholds, and until they did, were beating their wings; if additional birds had flown down during this time, they would've interfered with one another, and possibly the whole bunch would've fallen to the bottom. Once this started, the number of circling birds seemed to decline surprisingly quickly, and the last of them were gone by 8 p.m.; presumably, down the chimney, though it didn't seem as though I'd seen that many going into it.
Other accounts make it sound as though large numbers of swifts pour down a chimney, unlike my birds, which seemed to go down a handful at a time. Maybe the St. Luke's flue is narrower than the brick chimney would suggest, and there's not room for all that many birds to go down at once?
Date: 9/30/26 12:04 pm From: Don and Shirley Maas via groups.io <snowbirds2012...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
Tweet dreams are made of this
Image: ChatGPT/Kim Komando
𤯠WOW! On Oct. 8, 2025, weather radar counted 1.25 billion birds in the air over the U.S. Thatâs the biggest overnight flight ever recorded. One county saw 17.8 million fly over. And weâre in peak season right now.
ð Read time: 1.5 minutes
Step outside tonight around 10. The sky looks empty.
It isnât.
More than 80% of North Americaâs migratory bird species travel at night. Warblers, thrushes, sparrows. Most take off 30 to 45 minutes after sunset and fly as high as 10,000 feet. You never see them. A billion birds overhead, and not one stops to ask for directions. Show-offs.
ð¡ The radar that counts birds
The same radar that tracks storms for your forecast also picks up birds. A project called BirdCast, run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and university partners, turns those blips into a live count.
Three nights have topped a billion birds. Oct. 6, 2023. Sept. 25, 2025. Then Oct. 8, 2025, at 1.25 billion. Two records, two weeks in the same year.
Late September to early October is peak season in the northern half of the country. A cold front with a north wind is the signal. The birds wait for a tailwind, then everybody goes at once. (Think Black Friday, with feathers.)
Could this week top a billion? Nobody knows until the radar says so. Thatâs half the fun.
>
> On Sep 30, 2026 at 11:52 AM, <Don and Shirley Maas via groups.io (mailto:<snowbirds2012...>)> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> Maybe itâs time to preserve or build chimneys for Swifts much like we do for
>
> Bluebirds and Wooid Ducks.
>
>
>
> Don Maas
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >
> > On Sep 30, 2026 at 6:02 AM, <Jerry Toll via groups.io (mailto:<carolnhattie...>)> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks for the reminder! We see lots of Chimney Swifts migrating at the Hitchcock Hawkwatch. Also the Florence area business district hosts roost for them.
> >
> >
> >
> > Jerry Toll
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 6:04â¯AM flyingcarlini via groups.io (http://groups.io) <flyingcarlini...> (mailto:<yahoo.com...>)> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Thanks William, Diane, and Robin for the reminder that September and early October is the time to view impressive numbers of Chimney Swifts streaming into our local chimneys to roost at night. The big old brick chimneys that shelter anywhere from dozens to hundreds of CHSWs moving through this time of year won't be around forever and unfortunately the new chimneys exclude entry, so It's great to document these crucial chimney roost sites on eBird and bring to light a largely out of sight/out of mind phenomenon featuring a vulnerable species that's in decline.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Interesting to think of them entering in groups of 4-6, maybe family groups? Some of our photos have shown rows in flight of similarly sized groups during pre-entry chimney flyovers.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Regarding their hesitation to enter a chimney, in addition to entry likely being slowed as other arrivals clear out of the way, wind seems to be a factor that can result in birds aborting entry attempts before finally dropping in. Sometimes it diminishes at nightfall, so maybe some delay their entry? Last year during a large flock entry one particular evening, several birds actually whacked HARD against the lip of the chimney while trying to enter (presumably inexperienced juvs) apparently due to wind and possibly a subpar approach direction of the circling flock. It looked brutal but they all appeared to ricochet off and stay airborne somehow. 2 nights ago, we tallied 285 entering the spacious chimney at Westminster church on South St. & Sheridan Blvd. during calm conditions which allowed them to more easily hit the bullseye and drop straight down in an orderly controlled flow.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 09:58:32 PM CDT, Robin Harding via groups.io (http://groups.io) <pine2siskin4...> (mailto:<gmail.com...>)> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Nebraska birders,
> > >
> > > I had never watched Chimney Swifts go to their night roost. It was very cool to experience part of it with Bill Flack on September 24. It's too bad that we couldn't stay until the last swift descended into the chimney. I was unable to go back the next evening but I did this evening, September 26, arriving at about 7:10, when there were only five swifts circling the chimney. For a while, I thought that the swifts were using a different chimney this evening or that they had migrated south.
> > >
> > > The number of swifts slowly grew and they continued to circle the church's chimney. I thought that I saw a few swifts drop down into the chimney but as Bill wrote, it was difficult to determine if the swifts were going into the chimney or dropping down behind it. It was hard to estimate the total number of swifts since I couldn't see the whole flock but I estimated 60 swifts. The swirling mass of swifts continued. When it was almost too dark for me to see the birds, it looked like many swifts were dropping into the chimney but many were still circling. When I stopped hearing them twitter, I assumed that they were all in the chimney. It was about 8:00.
> > >
> > > My experience was very similar to Bill's and Diane's.
> > >
> > > Robin Harding
> > > Shelton, Nebr.
> > >
> > >
> > > On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:11â¯PM dt via groups.io (http://groups.io) <dtandelsie...> (mailto:<yahoo.com...>)> wrote:
> > >
> > > > William, this actually sounds similar to what I saw in Gothenburg on August 29th. The darker it got, the more rapidly they disappeared down the chimney, but as some descended, others flew by and circled around, eventually also descending. I watched approx. 200 enter the single chimney in approximately 17 minutes. https://ebird.org/checkli.st/S388114605 > > > > Quite a sight ! It would be great if birders who live near these chimneys used as migration roosts monitored them in late summer early fall!
> > > > Diane Thomas in Laramie, WY
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer (https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_315_SearchOrgConquer_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002039&af_sub5=C01_Email_Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=0c38e4b0-a27e-40f9-a211-f4e2de32ab91&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?<id...>&listing=search_organize_conquer)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:36 PM, William Flack via groups.io (http://groups.io)
> > > > >
> > > > > <sparvophile...> (mailto:<yahoo.com...>)> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > On Thursday evening, Sept. 24, Robin Harding and I watched Chimney Swifts circling over the block with St. Luke's and Central Elementary. I estimated the size of the flock as c. 200 birds. The orbit sometimes moved away, but generally included the St. Luke's chimney; and often, as swifts flew over the chimney, they fluttered a bit or dropped as though checking it out. However, it didn't appear that they were going down the chimney in any numbers. (It was hard to tell whether birds went down the chimney or behind the church, but it appeared that most were doing the latter.) Unfortunately, we had to get to a movie at the World at 7:30, so left the swifts at 7:23, before we could see if they'd actually go down the chimney in numbers.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > The following evening (Sept. 25), I returned to the site, arriving at about 7:30. The swifts were again circling, but there numbers appeared to be about half of what they were the previous nightâperhaps a different flock, or perhaps many had already gone to roost. This time, the loop in which they were flying always seemed to include the space right above the church. Again, birds passing over the chimney would drop down and flutter a bit, as though checking it out, but would usually resume circling. After a while, though, it appeared that they were starting to go down. It looked like 4â6 birds would drop down into the chimney; and, after that, birds would dip down to check, but no one else would descend for a little while, until another handful went down. My conjecture is that birds that flew down the chimney took some time to find footholds, and until they did, were beating their wings; if additional birds had flown down during this time, they would've interfered with one another, and possibly the whole bunch would've fallen to the bottom. Once this started, the number of circling birds seemed to decline surprisingly quickly, and the last of them were gone by 8 p.m.; presumably, down the chimney, though it didn't seem as though I'd seen that many going into it.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Other accounts make it sound as though large numbers of swifts pour down a chimney, unlike my birds, which seemed to go down a handful at a time. Maybe the St. Luke's flue is narrower than the brick chimney would suggest, and there's not room for all that many birds to go down at once?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > William Flack
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Kearney
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 9/30/26 11:52 am From: Don and Shirley Maas via groups.io <snowbirds2012...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
Maybe itâs time to preserve or build chimneys for Swifts much like we do for
Bluebirds and Wooid Ducks.
Don Maas
>
> On Sep 30, 2026 at 6:02 AM, <Jerry Toll via groups.io (mailto:<carolnhattie...>)> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Thanks for the reminder! We see lots of Chimney Swifts migrating at the Hitchcock Hawkwatch. Also the Florence area business district hosts roost for them.
>
>
>
> Jerry Toll
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 6:04â¯AM flyingcarlini via groups.io (http://groups.io) <flyingcarlini...> (mailto:<yahoo.com...>)> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks William, Diane, and Robin for the reminder that September and early October is the time to view impressive numbers of Chimney Swifts streaming into our local chimneys to roost at night. The big old brick chimneys that shelter anywhere from dozens to hundreds of CHSWs moving through this time of year won't be around forever and unfortunately the new chimneys exclude entry, so It's great to document these crucial chimney roost sites on eBird and bring to light a largely out of sight/out of mind phenomenon featuring a vulnerable species that's in decline.
> >
> >
> >
> > Interesting to think of them entering in groups of 4-6, maybe family groups? Some of our photos have shown rows in flight of similarly sized groups during pre-entry chimney flyovers.
> >
> >
> >
> > Regarding their hesitation to enter a chimney, in addition to entry likely being slowed as other arrivals clear out of the way, wind seems to be a factor that can result in birds aborting entry attempts before finally dropping in. Sometimes it diminishes at nightfall, so maybe some delay their entry? Last year during a large flock entry one particular evening, several birds actually whacked HARD against the lip of the chimney while trying to enter (presumably inexperienced juvs) apparently due to wind and possibly a subpar approach direction of the circling flock. It looked brutal but they all appeared to ricochet off and stay airborne somehow. 2 nights ago, we tallied 285 entering the spacious chimney at Westminster church on South St. & Sheridan Blvd. during calm conditions which allowed them to more easily hit the bullseye and drop straight down in an orderly controlled flow.
> >
> >
> >
> > -Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 09:58:32 PM CDT, Robin Harding via groups.io (http://groups.io) <pine2siskin4...> (mailto:<gmail.com...>)> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Nebraska birders,
> >
> > I had never watched Chimney Swifts go to their night roost. It was very cool to experience part of it with Bill Flack on September 24. It's too bad that we couldn't stay until the last swift descended into the chimney. I was unable to go back the next evening but I did this evening, September 26, arriving at about 7:10, when there were only five swifts circling the chimney. For a while, I thought that the swifts were using a different chimney this evening or that they had migrated south.
> >
> > The number of swifts slowly grew and they continued to circle the church's chimney. I thought that I saw a few swifts drop down into the chimney but as Bill wrote, it was difficult to determine if the swifts were going into the chimney or dropping down behind it. It was hard to estimate the total number of swifts since I couldn't see the whole flock but I estimated 60 swifts. The swirling mass of swifts continued. When it was almost too dark for me to see the birds, it looked like many swifts were dropping into the chimney but many were still circling. When I stopped hearing them twitter, I assumed that they were all in the chimney. It was about 8:00.
> >
> > My experience was very similar to Bill's and Diane's.
> >
> > Robin Harding
> > Shelton, Nebr.
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:11â¯PM dt via groups.io (http://groups.io) <dtandelsie...> (mailto:<yahoo.com...>)> wrote:
> >
> > > William, this actually sounds similar to what I saw in Gothenburg on August 29th. The darker it got, the more rapidly they disappeared down the chimney, but as some descended, others flew by and circled around, eventually also descending. I watched approx. 200 enter the single chimney in approximately 17 minutes. https://ebird.org/checkli.st/S388114605 > > > Quite a sight ! It would be great if birders who live near these chimneys used as migration roosts monitored them in late summer early fall!
> > > Diane Thomas in Laramie, WY
> > >
> > >
> > > Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer (https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_315_SearchOrgConquer_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002039&af_sub5=C01_Email_Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=0c38e4b0-a27e-40f9-a211-f4e2de32ab91&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?<id...>&listing=search_organize_conquer)
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:36 PM, William Flack via groups.io (http://groups.io)
> > > >
> > > > <sparvophile...> (mailto:<yahoo.com...>)> wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Thursday evening, Sept. 24, Robin Harding and I watched Chimney Swifts circling over the block with St. Luke's and Central Elementary. I estimated the size of the flock as c. 200 birds. The orbit sometimes moved away, but generally included the St. Luke's chimney; and often, as swifts flew over the chimney, they fluttered a bit or dropped as though checking it out. However, it didn't appear that they were going down the chimney in any numbers. (It was hard to tell whether birds went down the chimney or behind the church, but it appeared that most were doing the latter.) Unfortunately, we had to get to a movie at the World at 7:30, so left the swifts at 7:23, before we could see if they'd actually go down the chimney in numbers.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > The following evening (Sept. 25), I returned to the site, arriving at about 7:30. The swifts were again circling, but there numbers appeared to be about half of what they were the previous nightâperhaps a different flock, or perhaps many had already gone to roost. This time, the loop in which they were flying always seemed to include the space right above the church. Again, birds passing over the chimney would drop down and flutter a bit, as though checking it out, but would usually resume circling. After a while, though, it appeared that they were starting to go down. It looked like 4â6 birds would drop down into the chimney; and, after that, birds would dip down to check, but no one else would descend for a little while, until another handful went down. My conjecture is that birds that flew down the chimney took some time to find footholds, and until they did, were beating their wings; if additional birds had flown down during this time, they would've interfered with one another, and possibly the whole bunch would've fallen to the bottom. Once this started, the number of circling birds seemed to decline surprisingly quickly, and the last of them were gone by 8 p.m.; presumably, down the chimney, though it didn't seem as though I'd seen that many going into it.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Other accounts make it sound as though large numbers of swifts pour down a chimney, unlike my birds, which seemed to go down a handful at a time. Maybe the St. Luke's flue is narrower than the brick chimney would suggest, and there's not room for all that many birds to go down at once?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > William Flack
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Kearney
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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> > >
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Date: 9/30/26 6:02 am From: Jerry Toll via groups.io <carolnhattie...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
Thanks for the reminder! We see lots of Chimney Swifts migrating at the
Hitchcock Hawkwatch. Also the Florence area business district hosts roost
for them.
Jerry Toll
On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 6:04â¯AM flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> Thanks William, Diane, and Robin for the reminder that September and early
> October is the time to view impressive numbers of Chimney Swifts streaming
> into our local chimneys to roost at night. The big old brick chimneys that
> shelter anywhere from dozens to hundreds of CHSWs moving through this time
> of year won't be around forever and unfortunately the new chimneys exclude
> entry, so It's great to document these crucial chimney roost sites on eBird
> and bring to light a largely out of sight/out of mind phenomenon featuring
> a vulnerable species that's in decline.
>
> Interesting to think of them entering in groups of 4-6, maybe family
> groups? Some of our photos have shown rows in flight of similarly sized
> groups during pre-entry chimney flyovers.
>
> Regarding their hesitation to enter a chimney, in addition to entry likely
> being slowed as other arrivals clear out of the way, wind seems to be a
> factor that can result in birds aborting entry attempts before finally
> dropping in. Sometimes it diminishes at nightfall, so maybe some delay
> their entry? Last year during a large flock entry one particular evening,
> several birds actually whacked HARD against the lip of the chimney while
> trying to enter (presumably inexperienced juvs) apparently due to wind and
> possibly a subpar approach direction of the circling flock. It looked
> brutal but they all appeared to ricochet off and stay airborne somehow. 2
> nights ago, we tallied 285 entering the spacious chimney at Westminster
> church on South St. & Sheridan Blvd. during calm conditions which allowed
> them to more easily hit the bullseye and drop straight down in an orderly
> controlled flow.
>
> -Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 09:58:32 PM CDT, Robin Harding via
> groups.io <pine2siskin4...> wrote:
>
>
>
> Nebraska birders,
>
> I had never watched Chimney Swifts go to their night roost. It was very
> cool to experience part of it with Bill Flack on September 24. It's too
> bad that we couldn't stay until the last swift descended into the chimney.
> I was unable to go back the next evening but I did this evening, September
> 26, arriving at about 7:10, when there were only five swifts circling the
> chimney. For a while, I thought that the swifts were using a different
> chimney this evening or that they had migrated south.
>
> The number of swifts slowly grew and they continued to circle the church's
> chimney. I thought that I saw a few swifts drop down into the chimney but
> as Bill wrote, it was difficult to determine if the swifts were going into
> the chimney or dropping down behind it. It was hard to estimate the total
> number of swifts since I couldn't see the whole flock but I estimated 60
> swifts. The swirling mass of swifts continued. When it was almost too
> dark for me to see the birds, it looked like many swifts were dropping into
> the chimney but many were still circling. When I stopped hearing them
> twitter, I assumed that they were all in the chimney. It was about 8:00.
>
> My experience was very similar to Bill's and Diane's.
>
> Robin Harding
> Shelton, Nebr.
>
> On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:11â¯PM dt via groups.io <dtandelsie=
> <yahoo.com...> wrote:
>
> William, this actually sounds similar to what I saw in Gothenburg on
> August 29th. The darker it got, the more rapidly they disappeared down the
> chimney, but as some descended, others flew by and circled around,
> eventually also descending. I watched approx. 200 enter the single chimney
> in approximately 17 minutes. https://ebird.org/checkli.st/S388114605 > Quite a sight ! It would be great if birders who live near these chimneys
> used as migration roosts monitored them in late summer early fall!
> Diane Thomas in Laramie, WY
>
> Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
> <https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_315_SearchOrgConquer_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002039&af_sub5=C01_Email_Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=0c38e4b0-a27e-40f9-a211-f4e2de32ab91&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?<id...>&listing=search_organize_conquer> >
> On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:36 PM, William Flack via groups.io
> <sparvophile...> wrote:
>
> On Thursday evening, Sept. 24, Robin Harding and I watched *Chimney
> Swifts* circling over the block with St. Luke's and Central Elementary. I
> estimated the size of the flock as c. 200 birds. The orbit sometimes moved
> away, but generally included the St. Luke's chimney; and often, as swifts
> flew over the chimney, they fluttered a bit or dropped as though checking
> it out. However, it didn't appear that they were going down the chimney in
> any numbers. (It was hard to tell whether birds went down the chimney or
> behind the church, but it appeared that most were doing the latter.)
> Unfortunately, we had to get to a movie at the World at 7:30, so left the
> swifts at 7:23, before we could see if they'd actually go down the chimney
> in numbers.
>
>
>
> The following evening (Sept. 25), I returned to the site, arriving at
> about 7:30. The swifts were again circling, but there numbers appeared to
> be about half of what they were the previous nightâperhaps a different
> flock, or perhaps many had already gone to roost. This time, the loop in
> which they were flying always seemed to include the space right above the
> church. Again, birds passing over the chimney would drop down and flutter a
> bit, as though checking it out, but would usually resume circling. After a
> while, though, it appeared that they were starting to go down. It looked
> like 4â6 birds would drop down into the chimney; and, after that, birds
> would dip down to check, but no one else would descend for a little while,
> until another handful went down. My conjecture is that birds that flew down
> the chimney took some time to find footholds, and until they did, were
> beating their wings; if additional birds had flown down during this time,
> they would've interfered with one another, and possibly the whole bunch
> would've fallen to the bottom. Once this started, the number of circling
> birds seemed to decline surprisingly quickly, and the last of them were
> gone by 8 p.m.; presumably, down the chimney, though it didn't seem as
> though I'd seen that many going into it.
>
>
>
> Other accounts make it sound as though large numbers of swifts pour down a
> chimney, unlike my birds, which seemed to go down a handful at a time.
> Maybe the St. Luke's flue is narrower than the brick chimney would suggest,
> and there's not room for all that many birds to go down at once?
>
>
>
> William Flack
>
> Kearney
>
>
>
>
Date: 9/30/26 4:04 am From: flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
Thanks William, Diane, and Robin for the reminder that September and early October is the time to view impressive numbers of Chimney Swifts streaming into our local chimneys to roost at night. Â The big old brick chimneys that shelter anywhere from dozens to hundreds of CHSWs moving through this time of year won't be around forever and unfortunately the new chimneys exclude entry, so It's great to document these crucial chimney roost sites on eBird and bring to light a largely out of sight/out of mind phenomenon featuring a vulnerable species that's in decline.
Interesting to think of them entering in groups of 4-6, maybe family groups? Â Some of our photos have shown rows in flight of similarly sized groups during pre-entry chimney flyovers.
Regarding their hesitation to enter a chimney, in addition to entry likely being slowed as other arrivals clear out of the way, wind seems to be a factor that can result in birds aborting entry attempts before finally dropping in. Â Sometimes it diminishes at nightfall, so maybe some delay their entry? Â Last year during a large flock entry one particular evening, several birds actually whacked HARD against the lip of the chimney while trying to enter (presumably inexperienced juvs) apparently due to wind and possibly a subpar approach direction of the circling flock. Â It looked brutal but they all appeared to ricochet off and stay airborne somehow. Â 2 nights ago, we tallied 285 entering the spacious chimney at Westminster church on South St. & Sheridan Blvd. during calm conditions which allowed them to more easily hit the bullseye and drop straight down in an orderly controlled flow.Â
-Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
On Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 09:58:32 PM CDT, Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> wrote:
Nebraska birders,
I had never watched Chimney Swifts go to their night roost. It was very cool to experience part of it with Bill Flack on September 24. It's too bad that we couldn't stay until the last swift descended into the chimney. I was unable to go back the next evening but I did this evening, September 26, arriving at about 7:10, when there were only five swifts circling the chimney. For a while, I thought that the swifts were using a different chimney this evening or that they had migrated south.
The number of swifts slowly grew and they continued to circle the church's chimney. I thought that I saw a few swifts drop down into the chimney but as Bill wrote, it was difficult to determine if the swifts were going into the chimney or dropping down behind it. It was hard to estimate the total number of swifts since I couldn't see the whole flock but I estimated 60 swifts. The swirling mass of swifts continued. When it was almost too dark for me to see the birds, it looked like many swifts were dropping into the chimney but many were still circling. When I stopped hearing them twitter, I assumed that they were all in the chimney. It was about 8:00. Â
My experience was very similar to Bill's and Diane's. Â
Robin Harding
Shelton, Nebr.
On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:11â¯PM dt via groups.io <dtandelsie...> wrote:
William, this actually sounds similar to what I saw in Gothenburg on August 29th. The darker it got, the more rapidly they disappeared down the chimney, but as some descended, others flew by and circled around, eventually also descending. I watched approx. 200 enter the single chimney in approximately 17 minutes. https://ebird.org/checkli.st/S388114605 Quite a sight ! It would be great if birders who live near these chimneys used as migration roosts monitored them in late summer early fall!
Diane Thomas in Laramie, WY
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:36 PM, William Flack via groups.io<sparvophile...> wrote:
On Thursday evening, Sept. 24, Robin Harding and I watched Chimney Swifts circling over the block with St. Luke's and Central Elementary. I estimated the size of the flock as c. 200 birds. The orbit sometimes moved away, but generally included the St. Luke's chimney; and often, as swifts flew over the chimney, they fluttered a bit or dropped as though checking it out. However, it didn't appear that they were going down the chimney in any numbers. (It was hard to tell whether birds went down the chimney or behind the church, but it appeared that most were doing the latter.) Unfortunately, we had to get to a movie at the World at 7:30, so left the swifts at 7:23, before we could see if they'd actually go down the chimney in numbers.
Â
The following evening (Sept. 25), I returned to the site, arriving at about 7:30. The swifts were again circling, but there numbers appeared to be about half of what they were the previous nightâperhaps a different flock, or perhaps many had already gone to roost. This time, the loop in which they were flying always seemed to include the space right above the church. Again, birds passing over the chimney would drop down and flutter a bit, as though checking it out, but would usually resume circling. After a while, though, it appeared that they were starting to go down. It looked like 4â6 birds would drop down into the chimney; and, after that, birds would dip down to check, but no one else would descend for a little while, until another handful went down. My conjecture is that birds that flew down the chimney took some time to find footholds, and until they did, were beating their wings; if additional birds had flown down during this time, they would've interfered with one another, and possibly the whole bunch would've fallen to the bottom. Once this started, the number of circling birds seemed to decline surprisingly quickly, and the last of them were gone by 8 p.m.; presumably, down the chimney, though it didn't seem as though I'd seen that many going into it.
Â
Other accounts make it sound as though large numbers of swifts pour down a chimney, unlike my birds, which seemed to go down a handful at a time. Maybe the St. Luke's flue is narrower than the brick chimney would suggest, and there's not room for all that many birds to go down at once?
Date: 9/26/26 7:58 pm From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
Nebraska birders,
I had never watched Chimney Swifts go to their night roost. It was very
cool to experience part of it with Bill Flack on September 24. It's too
bad that we couldn't stay until the last swift descended into the chimney.
I was unable to go back the next evening but I did this evening, September
26, arriving at about 7:10, when there were only five swifts circling the
chimney. For a while, I thought that the swifts were using a different
chimney this evening or that they had migrated south.
The number of swifts slowly grew and they continued to circle the church's
chimney. I thought that I saw a few swifts drop down into the chimney but
as Bill wrote, it was difficult to determine if the swifts were going into
the chimney or dropping down behind it. It was hard to estimate the total
number of swifts since I couldn't see the whole flock but I estimated 60
swifts. The swirling mass of swifts continued. When it was almost too
dark for me to see the birds, it looked like many swifts were dropping into
the chimney but many were still circling. When I stopped hearing them
twitter, I assumed that they were all in the chimney. It was about 8:00.
My experience was very similar to Bill's and Diane's.
Robin Harding
Shelton, Nebr.
On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:11â¯PM dt via groups.io <dtandelsie=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> William, this actually sounds similar to what I saw in Gothenburg on
> August 29th. The darker it got, the more rapidly they disappeared down the
> chimney, but as some descended, others flew by and circled around,
> eventually also descending. I watched approx. 200 enter the single chimney
> in approximately 17 minutes. https://ebird.org/checkli.st/S388114605 > Quite a sight ! It would be great if birders who live near these chimneys
> used as migration roosts monitored them in late summer early fall!
> Diane Thomas in Laramie, WY
>
> Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
> <https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_315_SearchOrgConquer_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002039&af_sub5=C01_Email_Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=0c38e4b0-a27e-40f9-a211-f4e2de32ab91&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?<id...>&listing=search_organize_conquer> >
> On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:36 PM, William Flack via groups.io
> <sparvophile...> wrote:
>
> On Thursday evening, Sept. 24, Robin Harding and I watched *Chimney
> Swifts* circling over the block with St. Luke's and Central Elementary. I
> estimated the size of the flock as c. 200 birds. The orbit sometimes moved
> away, but generally included the St. Luke's chimney; and often, as swifts
> flew over the chimney, they fluttered a bit or dropped as though checking
> it out. However, it didn't appear that they were going down the chimney in
> any numbers. (It was hard to tell whether birds went down the chimney or
> behind the church, but it appeared that most were doing the latter.)
> Unfortunately, we had to get to a movie at the World at 7:30, so left the
> swifts at 7:23, before we could see if they'd actually go down the chimney
> in numbers.
>
>
>
> The following evening (Sept. 25), I returned to the site, arriving at
> about 7:30. The swifts were again circling, but there numbers appeared to
> be about half of what they were the previous nightâperhaps a different
> flock, or perhaps many had already gone to roost. This time, the loop in
> which they were flying always seemed to include the space right above the
> church. Again, birds passing over the chimney would drop down and flutter a
> bit, as though checking it out, but would usually resume circling. After a
> while, though, it appeared that they were starting to go down. It looked
> like 4â6 birds would drop down into the chimney; and, after that, birds
> would dip down to check, but no one else would descend for a little while,
> until another handful went down. My conjecture is that birds that flew down
> the chimney took some time to find footholds, and until they did, were
> beating their wings; if additional birds had flown down during this time,
> they would've interfered with one another, and possibly the whole bunch
> would've fallen to the bottom. Once this started, the number of circling
> birds seemed to decline surprisingly quickly, and the last of them were
> gone by 8 p.m.; presumably, down the chimney, though it didn't seem as
> though I'd seen that many going into it.
>
>
>
> Other accounts make it sound as though large numbers of swifts pour down a
> chimney, unlike my birds, which seemed to go down a handful at a time.
> Maybe the St. Luke's flue is narrower than the brick chimney would suggest,
> and there's not room for all that many birds to go down at once?
>
>
>
> William Flack
>
> Kearney
>
>
>
>
Date: 9/26/26 7:11 pm From: dt via groups.io <dtandelsie...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
William, this actually sounds similar to what I saw in Gothenburg on August 29th. The darker it got, the more rapidly they disappeared down the chimney, but as some descended, others flew by and circled around, eventually also descending. I watched approx. 200 enter the single chimney in approximately 17 minutes. https://ebird.org/checkli.st/S388114605 Quite a sight ! It would be great if birders who live near these chimneys used as migration roosts monitored them in late summer early fall!
Diane Thomas in Laramie, WY
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 9:36 PM, William Flack via groups.io<sparvophile...> wrote:
On Thursday evening, Sept. 24, Robin Harding and I watched Chimney Swifts circling over the block with St. Luke's and Central Elementary. I estimated the size of the flock as c. 200 birds. The orbit sometimes moved away, but generally included the St. Luke's chimney; and often, as swifts flew over the chimney, they fluttered a bit or dropped as though checking it out. However, it didn't appear that they were going down the chimney in any numbers. (It was hard to tell whether birds went down the chimney or behind the church, but it appeared that most were doing the latter.) Unfortunately, we had to get to a movie at the World at 7:30, so left the swifts at 7:23, before we could see if they'd actually go down the chimney in numbers.
Â
The following evening (Sept. 25), I returned to the site, arriving at about 7:30. The swifts were again circling, but there numbers appeared to be about half of what they were the previous nightâperhaps a different flock, or perhaps many had already gone to roost. This time, the loop in which they were flying always seemed to include the space right above the church. Again, birds passing over the chimney would drop down and flutter a bit, as though checking it out, but would usually resume circling. After a while, though, it appeared that they were starting to go down. It looked like 4â6 birds would drop down into the chimney; and, after that, birds would dip down to check, but no one else would descend for a little while, until another handful went down. My conjecture is that birds that flew down the chimney took some time to find footholds, and until they did, were beating their wings; if additional birds had flown down during this time, they would've interfered with one another, and possibly the whole bunch would've fallen to the bottom. Once this started, the number of circling birds seemed to decline surprisingly quickly, and the last of them were gone by 8 p.m.; presumably, down the chimney, though it didn't seem as though I'd seen that many going into it.
Â
Other accounts make it sound as though large numbers of swifts pour down a chimney, unlike my birds, which seemed to go down a handful at a time. Maybe the St. Luke's flue is narrower than the brick chimney would suggest, and there's not room for all that many birds to go down at once?
Date: 9/26/26 6:36 pm From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: [NEBirds] Chimney Swift roost in Kearney
On Thursday evening, Sept. 24, Robin Harding and I watched *Chimney Swifts* circling over the block with St. Luke's and Central Elementary. I estimated the size of the flock as c. 200 birds. The orbit sometimes moved away, but generally included the St. Luke's chimney; and often, as swifts flew over the chimney, they fluttered a bit or dropped as though checking it out. However, it didn't appear that they were going down the chimney in any numbers. (It was hard to tell whether birds went down the chimney or behind the church, but it appeared that most were doing the latter.) Unfortunately, we had to get to a movie at the World at 7:30, so left the swifts at 7:23, before we could see if they'd actually go down the chimney in numbers.
The following evening (Sept. 25), I returned to the site, arriving at about 7:30. The swifts were again circling, but there numbers appeared to be about half of what they were the previous nightâperhaps a different flock, or perhaps many had already gone to roost. This time, the loop in which they were flying always seemed to include the space right above the church. Again, birds passing over the chimney would drop down and flutter a bit, as though checking it out, but would usually resume circling. After a while, though, it appeared that they were starting to go down. It looked like 4â6 birds would drop down into the chimney; and, after that, birds would dip down to check, but no one else would descend for a little while, until another handful went down. My conjecture is that birds that flew down the chimney took some time to find footholds, and until they did, were beating their wings; if additional birds had flown down during this time, they would've interfered with one another, and possibly the whole bunch would've fallen to the bottom. Once this started, the number of circling birds seemed to decline surprisingly quickly, and the last of them were gone by 8 p.m.; presumably, down the chimney, though it didn't seem as though I'd seen that many going into it.
Other accounts make it sound as though large numbers of swifts pour down a chimney, unlike my birds, which seemed to go down a handful at a time. Maybe the St. Luke's flue is narrower than the brick chimney would suggest, and there's not room for all that many birds to go down at once?
Date: 9/26/26 4:44 pm From: Kianna Burtle via groups.io <kiannaburtle...> Subject: [NEBirds] Chadron State Park Week 4 Banding Recap (9/22-9/26)
NEBirders,
The first full week at the new location has gone well with an increase in numbers and diversity! Chadron Creek flows through the banding station which makes this an excellent spot for spotting migrating birds! Here are this weeks totals:
The station will be open this week Tuesday through Saturday (weather permitting) and is now located at the Campground trailhead across from the tennis court in Chadron State Park! This is an exciting time to come visit the brand new location and see what birds stop by! Anyone is welcome to visit while the nets are open from 6:30am-12:30pm (weather permitting), hope to see you there!
Kianna Burtle
Bander, Chadron State Park
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Date: 9/26/26 4:44 pm From: cronakelsey via groups.io <cronakelsey...> Subject: [NEBirds] Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Banding Report - Wildcat Hills Station 9/22/2026 - 9/26/2026
Hello folks!
**
**
Iâve got a weekly update for you from the Wildcat Hills banding station. Less than ideal conditions including windy, wet, and cool weather caused the station to be slower this week. However, numbers were decent and three new species were added to the seasonal list! I banded 98 new birds of 18 species.
**
**
Red Crossbill: 27
Cassinâs Finch: 17
House Finch: 11
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubonâs): 9
Townsendâs Solitaire: 5
Spotted Towhee: 5
Red-breasted Nuthatch: 4
Wilsonâs Warbler: 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: 3 *new species*
Orange-crowned Warbler: 3
Chipping Sparrow: 3
Pink-sided Junco: 2
Pine Siskin: 1
Townsendâs Warbler: 1
Lesser Goldfinch: 1
Pygmy Nuthatch: 1
Field Sparrow: 1 *new species*
American Robin: 1 *new species*
**
**
A slower week but still full of surprises. The number of Cassinâs Finches have continued to grow, and Townsendâs Solitaires are one of my favorite species, so Iâve felt quite spoiled with how many Iâve caught! Additionally, the Field Sparrow was a nice surprise! It was my first time banding this species.
**
**
There were a decent number of visitors this week. Two elementary schools brought young learners to see birds up close, and a group of undergraduate wildlife students from UNL spent a morning learning about the operation of the station. Additionally, we celebrated 20 years of banding at Wildcat Hills today! It was a great week to share bird banding with so many people.
**
**
Our schedule for the coming weeks looks a bit different. Weather permitting, the station will be open on 9/29 - 10/5. Nets will open around 6:35am and will close at 12:35pm. The station will be closed 10/6 and 10/7, but will be open 10/8 - 10/10. The station will close on the 10th, so get your visits in while you still can!
Date: 9/22/26 1:53 pm From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Hall County Park
Nebraska birders,
On Tuesday, September 22, I went to Hall County Park again. The park has great habitat and there have been new and different birds seen every day recently. I met Steve Morris in the park and we birded for a couple of hours. As usual, the birding was very slow until we came upon a small group of warblers. We saw a Nashville, a few Orange-crowned and about five Blackpoll Warblers. We were able to follow them for a while but then we lost them.
After lunch, I went back to Hall County Park because it was on my way home and I thought that maybe Colleen Childers might be there. I waited for a few minutes and there was Colleen. We birded together for about a half hour. We saw a Warbling Vireo whose underparts were very yellow but I couldn't see a dark lore, so I couldn't call it a Philadelphia Vireo. We also found a small group of warblers and were able to identify an Orange-crowned and a Bay-breasted Warbler which was a female/immature. Colleen was able to get photos.
The Bay-breasted Warbler is the 200th species that I have identified in Hall County.
Date: 9/21/26 3:55 pm From: Kianna Burtle via groups.io <kiannaburtle...> Subject: [NEBirds] Chadron State Park Week 3 Banding Recap (9/13-9/18)
NEBirders!
There were some exciting changes to the Chadron State Park banding station this week. From 9/13-9/15 the station ran normally from the Sawmill shelter, but as of 9/16 the banding station has been moved to a different location in the park! With more dense vegetation and a flowing creek, the new site has already given us more birds and more diversity!! Here are this weeks totals, including the last of the Sawmill shelter numbers and the newest Creek location numbers:
The station will be open this week Tuesday through Saturday (weather permitting) and is now located at the Campground trailhead across from the tennis court in Chadron State Park! This is an exciting time to come visit the brand new location and see what birds we will be banding there! Anyone is welcome to stop by at any time while the nets are open from 6:25am-12:25pm (weather permitting) , hope to see you there!
Kianna Burtle
Bander, Chadron State Park
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Date: 9/20/26 4:28 pm From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: [NEBirds] Potential state first Vega Gull!
Nebraska birders,
After the recent taxonomic split of the Herring Gull into 3 species, Vega Gull had been on my mind for a potential next state first.
Yesterday, Judson found an intriguing candidate at Pawnee Lake in Lancaster county. It displayed a dark eye, darker mantle (slightly lighter than FRGU), pink legs, and a thick white edge to the secondaries in flight. After tossing around multiple potential IDs including a handful of hybrids, we seemed to land on Great Black-backed x American Herring Gull Hybrid, but that ID didn't quite feel right to me.
After more discussion, and sending it to Amar Ayyash (author of the Gull Guide), we believe we might have the state first Vega Gull! I included his comments in my checklist
Unfortunately, the bird took off, caught a thermal, and disappeared while I was watching it, around 11:45.
Of course, there will be more discussion and a vote by the NOURC, but I'm reporting it as Vega right now. There's a chance it could return to a nearby roost at Pawnee or Branched Oak!
Date: 9/20/26 3:36 pm From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Hall and Howard Counties
Nebraska birders,
My friends Jessica Gorecki, Bill Flack and I birded in Hall County Park on Sunday, September 20. While we were there, we bumped into Colleen Childers, Steve Morris and Will. Soon after we started, we flushed a small group of Black-crowned Night-Herons from treetops. I was surprised to see Night-Herons in a city park and in trees. They are a new county bird for me.
The park was very quiet for most of the walk. We saw a few of the usual birds. We saw four or five hummingbirds at the feeders. They all appeared to be Ruby-throated. We saw one young male Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Finally, when we were about to quit, we saw one warbler. We could not identify it for sure. I think it was a young female Black-throated Green Warbler. Its throat, breast, belly and under-tail were white. There were two blurry gray streaks on each flank. It had two white wing bars on each wing. Its face pattern was like the male Black-throated Green Warbler that we saw a couple of days ago.
After lunch, Jessica and I walked the trail at Dannebrog in Howard County. We started near the water tower. We walked by the cemetery, around the sewage lagoons, into the woods, around the north side of town and back to the car. The birding was very quiet here as well. We did hear an Eastern Wood-Pewee and saw an Eastern Phoebe.
Date: 9/19/26 1:57 pm From: cronakelsey via groups.io <cronakelsey...> Subject: [NEBirds] Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Banding Report - Wildcat Hills Station 9/14/2026 - 9/19/2026
Hello Birders!
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Checking in here with a weekly update from the Wildcat Hills station. Unfortunately more bad weather this week caused the early closing or limited opening of the station resulting in lower numbers of birds caught. I banded a total of 73 birds of 16 different species, including one new species for the season.
**
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Red Crossbill: 24
Spotted Towhee: 12
House Finch: 11
Red-breasted Nuthatch: 5
Orange-crowned Warbler: 3
Pine Siskin: 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubonâs): 2
Pygmy Nuthatch: 2
Swainsonâs Thrush: 2 *new species*
Western Tanager: 2
Pink-sided Junco: 2
Cassinâs Finch: 2
Wilsonâs Warbler: 1
Lesser Goldfinch: 1
Townsendâs Warbler: 1
Chipping Sparrow: 1
**
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The station will be open Tuesday (9/22) through Saturday (9/26) next week. Nets will open at 6:30am and will close at 12:30pm, weather permitting. Come visit and enjoy the birds with me!
Date: 9/19/26 12:48 pm From: Bill Kaempfer via groups.io <William.Kaempfer...> Subject: [NEBirds] Fw: [cobirds] VARIEGATED FLYCATCHER at Stalker Lake, Yuma County 9/19/26
NE Birders, Dan Maynard found a likely Variegated Flycatcher today at Stalker Lake just west of Wray, CO (about 40-50 miles west of Benkleman, NE on US 6).
________________________________
From: <cobirds...> <cobirds...> on behalf of Daniel Maynard <dmaynar...>
Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2026 2:45 PM
To: CoBirds <cobirds...>
Subject: [cobirds] VARIEGATED FLYCATCHER at Stalker Lake, Yuma County 9/19/26
[External email - use caution]
Folks,
I found what appears to be a VARIEGATED FLYCATCHER at Stalker Lake in Yuma County. It's been in the area of (40.0866284, -102.2765109) for a while now, mostly perching high in olive snags. Mediocre iPhone photos below
Date: 9/19/26 11:37 am From: Jacob C. Cooper via groups.io <cooperj2...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Philadelphia Vireo
Hi Robin,
The Philadelphia Vireo is part of the gilvus clade of Warbling Vireos, which now includes the two Warbling-Vireos as well as the Neotropical Brown-capped Vireo. Philadelphia appears to be most closely related to Brown-capped, but it I know that there is more work that should be done on Brown-capped, especially given its broad range in the Neotropics. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2014.07.021)
Philadelphia Vireos mimic Red-eyed Vireos on the breeding range, as a form of social mimicry (similar to Downy + Hairy Woodpecker). From Birds of the World, my emphasis added:
"Philadelphia Vireo imitates the song of Red-eyed Vireo, although the former's song is structurally less complex (Rice 1978b, Rice 1978c). Unlike Red-eyed Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo discriminates between its song, that of Red-eyed Vireo, and songs with modified syntax (Rice 1978b). Playback experiments confirm that because Philadelphia Vireo is considerably smaller than Red-eyed Vireo, it has an incentive to avoid interspecific hostilities (Rice 1978b). The similarity in songs of the 2 species constitutes a form of social convergence in which Philadelphia Vireo can advertise/defend territories without having to confront Red-eyed Vireos physically. Social mimicry thereby maintains interspecific territorial integrity (Rice 1978b)." (https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.phivir.01)
Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Bruner Hall of Sciences, Room 321
2401 11th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68849-1130
Research Associate, Field Museum, Chicago
Citizen of the Cherokee Nation
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...>
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 08:19
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] Philadelphia Vireo
Caution: Non-NU Email
Nebraska birders,
When I reviewed my comments on the Philadelphia Vireo seen at Hall County Park, I realized that I had made a mistake. In my comments, I wrote "the eye line was darker than red-eyed vireo." What I had intended to write is "the eye line was darker than Warbling Vireo." I edited my comments on my ebird list.
In the past, I may have seen a Philadelphia Vireo but thought it was a Warbling Vireo. I'm glad that I was with other birders who had some experience with Philadelphia Vireo.
Do you know where I can read more about vireo evolution? Is Philadelphia Vireo a hybrid that has become a species? It looks like a cross between Warbling and Red-eyed. I'm not familiar with Philadelphia's song, but I've read that it is very similar to Red-eyed. So it looks like a Warbling Vireo and sings like a Red-eyed Vireo. What's going on here?
Date: 9/19/26 6:18 am From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Philadelphia Vireo
Nebraska birders,
When I reviewed my comments on the Philadelphia Vireo seen at Hall County Park, I realized that I had made a mistake. In my comments, I wrote "the eye line was darker than red-eyed vireo." What I had intended to write is "the eye line was darker than Warbling Vireo." I edited my comments on my ebird list.
In the past, I may have seen a Philadelphia Vireo but thought it was a Warbling Vireo. I'm glad that I was with other birders who had some experience with Philadelphia Vireo.
Do you know where I can read more about vireo evolution? Is Philadelphia Vireo a hybrid that has become a species? It looks like a cross between Warbling and Red-eyed. I'm not familiar with Philadelphia's song, but I've read that it is very similar to Red-eyed. So it looks like a Warbling Vireo and sings like a Red-eyed Vireo. What's going on here?
Date: 9/18/26 12:24 pm From: Gary Lingle via groups.io <pelicanlingle...> Subject: [NEBirds] Yellow-throated Vireo in Hall County
I found a Yellow-throated Vireo at Hall County Park at about 8:20 this morning. Its back was facing me but I could clearly see its yellow eye rings and yellow throat when it turned its head. The wing bars were also prominent from the back.
I was later joined by a small group of birders but we couldnât relocate it although we did see a Blue-headed Vireo, 3 Red-eyed Vireos, and 2 Philadelphia Vireos!
Date: 9/17/26 9:21 am From: John W. Hall via groups.io <jwhall2...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Black Vulture
Tobin,Good to know. I’ve never had a vulture tumble into my deck before, so was intrigued either way. Thanks for straightening me out. John HallOmaha NE 68137
Date: 9/16/26 5:10 pm From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Black Vulture
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but based on the brown plumage on the
back, the structure of the head, and the long tail, this appears to be a
juvenile Turkey Vulture. Their gray/black heads can be tricky and have
tripped up many birders before, myself included!
On Wed, Sep 16, 2026 at 6:54â¯PM John W. Hall via groups.io <jwhall2=
<juno.com...> wrote:
> Nebirders, We had a Black Vulture visit our deck in Millard yesterday
> afternoo. Rachel was able to get a photo of it for verificatio. This is the
> fourth in Nebraska according to Birds of Nebraska Online. Itâs the first
> since September 17, 2017, although a few have been seen as close as the
> Hitchcock Hawk Watch in recent years. Heres the picture!
>
> John & Rachel Hall
> Omaha, Nebraska 68137
>
>
>
Date: 9/16/26 4:54 pm From: John W. Hall via groups.io <jwhall2...> Subject: [NEBirds] Black Vulture
Nebirders, We had a Black Vulture visit our deck in Millard yesterday afternoo. Rachel was able to get a photo of it for verificatio. This is the fourth in Nebraska according to Birds of Nebraska Online. It’s the first since September 17, 2017, although a few have been seen as close as the Hitchcock Hawk Watch in recent years. Heres the picture! John & Rachel Hall Omaha, Nebraska 68137
Date: 9/15/26 10:54 pm From: Paul L. Pearson via groups.io <Propearson...> Subject: [NEBirds] NOU Fall 2026 Kearney Meeting Recap
We had record attendance at our NOU 2026 Fall Meeting in Kearneyâ¦95 registrants, surpassing the 85 last Fall in Ogallala!! Thanks to all of you for attending, presenting, leading field trips, participating and birding. Along with our usual contingent of longtime NOU members, we had a large number of new attendees. We had several UNK and UNL students and our youngest birder was 8!
The weekend started with a memorial tribute to recently passed NOU member Ed Brogie. Â We had a great slate of research presentations on Indigo/Lazuli Bunting hybrids, Piping Plover nesting in sandpits, restoring the UNK museum collection, 2026 Nebraska Cuckoo Survey, and internal temperatures of nesting Tree Swallows. Â Dr. Gabriel and Jennifer Rivera provided the Friday Plenary Lecture âNebraska Birds: Through Our Lensâ and Dr. Letty Reichart of UNK gave a moving Saturday keynote address âFledging the Nest -A Birdâs Eye View if Ornithological Inquiry and Mentorship.â
Despite slow birding on Friday for early arrivals and weather-related complications for some groups on Saturday AM, the birding heated up for Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Â Field trips went to Harlan County Reservoir, Howard County, northern Buffalo and Sherman Res., Crane Trust, Rowe Sanctuary and âBest of Kearneyâ hotspots.
Some of the rarer highlights included a VERY unexpected pair of Cassin's Kingbirds in Dawson County (first record), a first Hall County female Black-throated Blue Warbler and Bay-breasted Warbler at the Kearney Hike/Bike Trail that both refused to be re-found, a Sherman County first Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Philadelphia Vireo at Rowe Sanctuary.
Meeting attendees also received the new NOU sticker-see attachment!  Iâd like to distribute them to as many NOU members as possible, so when you see meâ¦ask!
Tentative plan for the Spring 2027 Meeting will be late April at a State Park location near Lincoln/Omaha just in time for a passerine migration explosion. Could it be another attendance record-setter? Â Who do you want to see as a featured speaker?
Please email me if you have any feedback regarding the Kearney meeting, positive or negative. Â If you have any suggestions for the Spring meeting Program let me know.
--
Paul L. Pearson, PhD
President-Nebraska Ornithologistsâ Union
Omaha, NE.
