Every year that I have been at St. Willebrord, I have seen and heard the birds called Chimney Swifts. They fly above the house and church with a distinctly stiff wing, communicating with a high-toned chatter. Apparently, they live on flying insects like mosquitos. Hooray! And they live in the chimneys at the Rectory and the church. Every August I have heard the newborn chicks crying for food from their parents. A small vent in my bedroom puts them in close contact with me. For a few weeks I tolerate their “bird talk” as the birds grow and then leave the nest. One day the vents ring with their clamor, and the next day they are gone.

This year I heard no Chimney Swifts in the rectory chimneys and saw only a few in the sky. Where did they go? What can I do to bring them back?

Did you know that at least 100 million birds die every year from colliding with buildings in the United States alone (some estimates say 1 billion die each year!)? Artificial light also influences birds in the breeding and winter seasons, disrupting feeding and other vital behaviors. Because artificial light affects birds in so many ways, it is impossible to know just how many birds are impacted by light pollution every year around the globe.

October 8, 2022 is World Migratory Bird Day. It is always the second Saturday in October, and the second Saturday in May. However, as many bird enthusiasts say, “every day is bird day!” Consider how you and your family can reduce light pollution at your home, your apartment complex, your farm, and your businesses. Think about using motion sensors for nighttime lights, or timers, instead of allowing the lights to shine all night. Ask business owners to be more conscious about their use of nighttime lights.

The encyclical of 2015 by Pope Francis, “Laudato Sí, Care for our Common Home,” is an instruction on how to apply the Gospel teachings to the physical and natural world in which we live. God has given us a wonderful gift in nature. We have a tremendous responsibility to steward well the natural world, that is, to use and care for it with respect.

As birds flock together for the fall migration, we are invited to remember that no bird falls to the ground forgotten by God (see Matthew 10:29-31). This means that God cares about the birds, about nature, and about us! Let us, therefore, care about the birds, about nature, and about each other.

Peace, Fr. Andy