By Lauren Smith, MT Audubon Communications Specialist

Nesting Black Swift – courtesy Montana Audubon

At the beginning of July, the Montana Audubon Black Swift research team began surveys in the far northwest corner of Montana, near Troy and Yaak. Three of the four sites surveyed were occupied by nesting Black Swifts – a great start to the field season! The team was thrilled to get wonderful looks at these elusive birds that nest exclusively in the mossy and wet spray zone of waterfalls. 

However, the path to Black Swifts isn’t all sunshine and roses . . . more like pre-dawn darkness and Devil’s club, with a healthy mix of mountain lions and steep, rocky terrain! In the latest post on the Montana Audubon website, the research team gives us a behind-the-scenes taste of what it’s like to be in the field. 

Read more about this exciting field work, check out photos of nesting Black Swifts, and watch the video on the Montana Audubon website: Montana Audubon Kicks Off Field Season with Successful Black Swift Surveys