Black Swift surveys
Black Swifts were the last avian species described in North America, discovered in 1857, and were one of the most mysterious until their interior western North American waterfall nesting habitat was discovered in 1919. It took until the 1960’s for Black Swift nesting sites, or nesting colonies, to be discovered in Montana, and up until 2015 there were still just seven known sites. Not surprisingly, the Black Swift is listed as a state species of conservation concern, and a state species of greatest inventory need.
Since the 2014 field season, Montana Audubon has been organizing volunteer and professional research teams to search for this elusive species throughout western Montana. We are partnering internationally, regionally, and close at home with Glacier National Park, Glacier National Park Conservancy, and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to find out just where our Black Swifts are active and breeding. So far, our efforts have helped bring the total number of known nesting sites to over 50, a five-fold increase in just five years.
Continuing to inventory this elusive species through 2020 is paramount, as climate change threatens to impact the Black Swift’s glacier fed waterfall habitat, and as aerial insectivores experience declines across the country. Our urgency to understand this species has increased in light of Black Swifts receiving “endangered” status throughout Canada in 2015.
Since the 2014 field season, Montana Audubon has been organizing volunteer and professional research teams to search for this elusive species throughout western Montana. We are partnering internationally, regionally, and close at home with Glacier National Park, Glacier National Park Conservancy, and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to find out just where our Black Swifts are active and breeding. So far, our efforts have helped bring the total number of known nesting sites to over 50, a five-fold increase in just five years.
Continuing to inventory this elusive species through 2020 is paramount, as climate change threatens to impact the Black Swift’s glacier fed waterfall habitat, and as aerial insectivores experience declines across the country. Our urgency to understand this species has increased in light of Black Swifts receiving “endangered” status throughout Canada in 2015.
Click here for more information on Black Swift identification, biology, and natural history.
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Two things you must do prior to surveying
1. Prior to surveys, YOU MUST EMAIL aseaman@mtaudubon.org with you intended survey location, date and time - please leave this information with someone you trust as well - safety first!
2. In order to be covered during your survey in case of an accident, you MUST fill out either a MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks volunteer form or a Glacier National Park form depending on your survey location.
2. In order to be covered during your survey in case of an accident, you MUST fill out either a MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks volunteer form or a Glacier National Park form depending on your survey location.
Click to learn more about Montana Audubon's Black Swift research. Find
blogposts, images from the field, project history and more.
blogposts, images from the field, project history and more.
