26 October 2018
During migration chimney swifts (Chaetura pelagica) travel during the day and roost at night in chimneys and hollow trees. Because they eat insects on the wing, they have to leave our area before it’s too cold for flying insects to survive.
This fall was so mild in Pittsburgh that there were still chimney swifts going to roost on Tuesday evening in Squirrel Hill. Steve Tirone filmed them that evening, though he hasn’t seen them since.
Watch Steve’s real time and slow motion video as the swifts dive into a chimney on Wightman Street at dusk on 23 Oct 2018.
(video by Steve Tirone)
Amazed to see them still in the area. My neighborhood birds left (from near Irwin) in mid-August, right on schedule.
Yesterday October 25 around noon I saw at least 2 chimney swifts flying and swooping around over the golf course in Schenley Park.