Chimney Swifts

Near Walter Reed Community Center, there is a chimney. And not just any chimney - this one is very special. Around this time - late summer to early fall, at dusk, the Swifts come out to do their spectacular flight performance. They fly in a doughnut formation for a while, settle back down into their chimney, and roost. I went to see this on 9/23 and it was just great. I got a lot of pictures of them flying in front of the moon, as you can see here:

Before settlers from the old world came, Chimney Swifts used hollowed-out trees for roosting. But when colonial houses (with chimneys) were built, and trees cut down, the Swifts started roosting in chimneys, hence their name. It is now very rare to find Chimney Swifts residing in a natural location. But at least they didn't go extinct like the Passenger Pigeon.

If you want to see this incredible performance, with hundreds of birds flying in formation, please visit Walter Reed Community Center in Virginia. Try to get there soon because the Swifts will be migrating south.