Rules of the Roost: Into the Chimneys with Swifts!

Swifts are a unique group of aerial acrobats that can eat and even sleep  on the wing. In eastern North America, Chimney Swifts form huge  communal roosts in urban chimneys during their fall migration. Andrew  Laughlin, along with undergraduate research students from UNC Asheville,  studied the local roosts during the fall of 2020 and found that these  chimneys serve different roles throughout the autumn roosting season:  some chimneys were active throughout the season, while others were only  active part of the time. This talk will explore the natural urban  phenomenon of Chimney Swift roosting behavior and make the case for the  importance of urban chimneys to preserve this unique phenomenon.