Umpqua Bird Alliance Migratory Bird Celebration

Roseburg Fall Swift Watch & Umpqua Valley Migratory Bird Celebration 2026

Two Fridays – September 18 & 25, beginning at 6:30 pm

At the Clay Place Chimney in the Fir Grove section of Stewart Park (off Harvard Ave. behind the Umpqua Valley Arts Center)

Hopefully the swifts will be back at the Clay Place chimney in the Fir Grove section of Stewart Park this year!

Details: Vaux’s Swifts generally enter the chimney close to sunset. In September, sunset will be about 7:15 pm on September 18th and closer to 7:00 pm by the 25th. Weather permitting, the “Swifts Sisters and Friends” will join us with Americana music beginning around 6:30.

Swift Watch:  Vaux’s Swifts (pronounced “vawks”) nest only in Western North America, migrating to Central and South America for the winter. At sunset during migration, Swifts gather in the dozens, sometimes hundreds or thousands, to communally roost. In urban settings, these roost sites are often in old industrial chimneys. While numbers vary from year to year, the display can be spectacular.

Umpqua Bird Alliance members will be available on these two Friday evenings to serve as interpretive naturalists, with information and brochures about Vaux’s Swifts as well as more general information about birding and our natural world.

Throughout the migration, Umpqua Bird Alliance members will be participating in a west coast wide data collection effort. Vaux’s Swift’s natural habitat is old growth forest habitat where they rely on large hollow snags for nesting and roosting. We know Swifts have lost much of their natural habitat and the number of chimneys available for roosting and nesting is also on the decline. Currently only 4 of 11 “old major roost” chimney sites remain available to them in our state.

Umpqua Valley Migratory Bird Celebration: Vaux’s Swifts are just one of many amazing bird species that pass through our area in the spring and fall in migration. Federal and State agencies will be joining us to celebrate fall bird migration in conjunction with Swift Watch in recognition of World Migratory Bird Day which brings attention to one of the most important and spectacular events in the Americas – bird migration. Information about migration and bird-related activities for kids will be offered. Plus, we may have. as special guests, two Cedar Waxwings who are rescued ambassador birds representing all migratory species for your viewing pleasure!

This event is a partnership between the Umpqua Bird Alliance and the City of Roseburg Parks & Recreation.

For more information, contact Umpqua Bird Alliance at info@umpquaaudubon.org.