What bird is an aerialist, an acrobat, and the bird famously dubbed as “a cigar with wings” by Roger Tory Peterson? None other than the shape-shifting, enigmatic chimney swift. These unique birds spend their days entirely in flight day searching for food, only returning to our terrestrial realm to roost at night or rest.

They are creatures of the sky or of dark caverns. They are also twittering fools: their chattering echoes over urban streets from May through September. They are also in trouble.

Data from across the US and Canada tells the same story, a story of a species declining across its range. Yet there is no clear answer to the simple question: “Why?”

Taking Action

In order to learn more, Mass Audubon has teamed-up with Drs. Drew Vitz and Margaret Rubega, the respective State Ornithologists from Massachusetts and Connecticut to launch the Chimney Swift Project. The goal: To work on protecting the breeding and roosting sites, which are vital to the swift’s survival.

During the 43,000 hours spent surveying birds in Massachusetts for the Breeding Bird Atlas 2, not one nest or roost site was found in a natural cavity (think a big dead tree)—they were all in chimneys. Swifts need big chimneys for roosting and small ones for nesting. The first step to answering the “Why?” is to know where those nesting and roosting chimneys are located.

Get Involved

This is where you come in. We need your help locating these swift nesting and roosting sites. All you have to do is pick a big chimney (one where you have seen swifts before is a great idea) anywhere in the United States, set up a chair, and watch the chimney for approximately 15 minutes before and after sunset.  Have a picnic, extend the evening dog walk, or simply enjoy a summer evening outside.

Then, using our online reporting tool, tell us if you saw swifts or no swifts. All data is important!

Copyright Sandy Selesky

When it comes to appreciating the four seasons, each one has its advantages. But there’s something about spring—a bright spot at the end of a long, cold winter—that makes it all the more enjoyable. And by being a Mass Audubon member you get free admission to all of our wildlife sanctuaries across the state, not to mention discounts on programs, shop purchases, and more.

So how much do we love spring? Let us count at least 5 of the ways.

Wildflowers

After a bleak, gray winter, the first wildflowers of spring are a much-needed remedy. Spring ephemerals such as trout lily, blue cohosh, red trillium, bloodroot, and marsh marigold provide color and contrast to trails, forests, and meadows.

Wildflowers are blooming and our wildlife sanctuaries, including High Ledges Wildlife Sanctuary in Shelburne, are some of the best places to see them. Before you go, learn about five of the earliest spring blooms.

Birds

Bird migration is upon us. Our wildlife sanctuaries offer these travel-weary birds a welcome resting spot (and plenty of opportunities for bird-watchers to get a glance), especially the bright and colorful bunch of warblers.

Early migrants like the pine, palm, and yellow-rumped warbler arrive as early as mid-April, but the time to see the greatest variety is mid-May, often right around Mother’s Day weekend. If you’re lucky, and the weather conditions are just right, you may even witness a “Warbler Wave”—an explosive fallout of migrants that make local woodlands come alive with song and animation.

Join a naturalist-led bird walk to make sure don’t miss a tweet.

Trails

Now that the weather is warming up and daylight is getting longer each day, you don’t need much of an excuse to get outside. Skip the neighborhood loop and take an easy, moderate, or challenging hike on one of our trails throughout the state. Find a wildlife sanctuary near you!

Baby Animals

Come get your daily dose of cuteness. Watch newborn lambs, kids, and piglets frolicking around Drumlin Farm in Lincoln. At Habitat in Belmont watch the goats munch away invasive species. Princeton’s Wachusett Meadow has it’s own herd of sheep. And thanks to a relationship with local farmers, you can see all sorts of animals at Long Pasture in Barnstable.

Spring New Member Sale

What better way to take advantage of all of the above then by joining Mass Audubon. And now through June 30, new members can save half off a full year of membership. For just $32, you not only get access to all of the above, but your membership dollars help Mass Audubon fund its vital conservation work to protect the land and the wildlife we all enjoy so much.