On my way to dinner in Menomonee Falls tonight, I took a loop around the
old buildings of the downtown area at Main Street and Appleton Avenue.
Just east of Appleton the Menomonee River crosses under Main Street, and
immediately on the right is the Old Mill (or Bell Telephone building,
according to a local resident). Having the sunroof open as well as the
windows, the familiar twittering of the Chimney Swifts was heard, and
looking up above the building, there they were circling.
Fortuitously, there was a driveway immediately next to the building that
went down the hill into a parking lot. This was the only way to view the
chimney that they were going into as the chimney is tucked away on the back
side and appears to be a remnant of a taller one that was there once but is
now technically lower than part of the building, and has a large brown
metal square collar that is slanted on the sides but apparently open on the
top. About 150 Swifts were observed entering, and there were at least an
equal amount of mosquitoes biting me at that time.
A couple of blocks to the West is the old fire station that's being
remodeled and still has a tall chimney where there used to be a roost.
We have a couple weeks or less left to view these aerial insectivores as
they will be migrating to South America shortly. So any sightings would
still be appreciated in Waukesha County. Also if you have not had the
opportunity to see the large roost at Okauchee, it is certainly worth
seeing a couple thousand plus Birds work their way into the roost for the
night, and if not at that location, perhaps at one that is closer to you.
Hopefully the Swifts that are migrating from our more Midwest area of the
United States will not run into the tropical storm conditions that are
possibly affecting these birds currently along the Eastern seaboard.
Happy birding.
Spence Stehno
Ben Goss Bird Club, Waukesha
Roost is at:
16447 Main Street, Menomonee Falls
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