DURHAM, NC—A rare and remarkable fall migration phenomenon is taking place in the heart of UNC Chapel Hill, at the campus’s grandest and most famous tree. Each night for at least the last two weeks, thousands of twittering Chimney Swifts have gathered around the Davie Poplar in a great, swirling flock.  

As the sun sets, the birds drop one by one into a large, vertical cavity in the tree, where they will spend the night. This behavior is normal for Chimney Swifts. The location is not.  

As their name suggests, Chimney Swifts nest and roost in chimneys and other manmade structures, as they have since European settlers cleared old growth forests across the eastern U.S. Reported cases of swifts using trees or caves are scarce. The Davie Poplar may be the first documented swift roost in a tree in North Carolina since that era. 

“The fact that this is happening in such a central, high-profile location is remarkable, and a great opportunity for folks to get a close-up look at this amazing bird,” said Curtis Smalling, Executive Director at Audubon North Carolina. “But it also underscores how much we’ve pushed Chimney Swifts to the limit.” 

When the old growth forests of the eastern U.S. were cleared, Chimney Swifts adapted by moving into human settlements. Despite this adaptation, swifts are in trouble again. Populations have declined by 50 percent in the last half century. Culprits include fewer suitable chimneys—due to changes in heating and construction, many are now capped or partially covered–and a decline in insect populations, which swifts eat on the wing. 

Downtown Discovery 

New Hope Bird Alliance Board Member Barbara Driscoll discovered the roost during regular Chimney Swift surveys that the chapter conducts each fall. Barbara was seeing few swifts above usual chimneys along the downtown skyline, but heard the sounds of twittering swifts nearby.  

She walked to campus, and discovered thousands of birds circling around the Davie Poplar.  

“It was totally surprising, and an incredible sight,” Driscoll said. “I hope folks get out to see the swifts this month, and then learn how they can get involved to help.” 

While the phenomenon is rare, the birds’ choice of the Davie Poplar isn’t completely surprising. The tree is nearly 400 years old, with a large, partially hollow trunk—just the profile that biologists have imagined for a natural swift roosting site. 

Today, it’s likely that swifts continue to nest and roost in old growth trees. The Black River in eastern North Carolina is one likely place, where 2,000-year-old giant bald cypress still stand. But these remnant tracts of old growth are scarce and often remote, which underscores just how remarkable the Davie Poplar roost is. 

Take Action 

Audubon and our chapters take action to help swifts by surveying roost sites and protecting them when possible. Chapters have also built their own dedicated swift towers for nesting and roosting at local parks, nature preserves and schools. 

New Hope Bird Alliance is also raising awareness about the threats faced by Chimney Swifts and other species that hunt insects on the wing, a group of birds known as aerial insectivores. Learn more about the chapter’s Year of the Aerial Insectivore here. 

You can witness this extraordinary migration phenomenon at one of two Swift Night Out viewing events at the Davie Poplar, hosted by New Hope Bird Alliance and the UNC Avian Society. 

Davie Poplar Swift Roost Watch Events: 

This historic tree is located on the campus grounds between the Old Well and McCorkle Place. Swifts can be seen circling over the grounds before entering the tree. NHBA is partnering with the UNC Avian Society. Parking is available at parking decks around campus and Morehead Planetarium.