Anticipating the Return of Cliff Swallows 2026!

It is an even-numbered year, which means we will be monitoring Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) at Western New Mexico University (WNMU) in earnest!

Several community members have been keeping a watchful eye on these graceful flyers for nearly 10 years, learning about their nesting habits. We decided that since this is a long-term study, we would conduct a campus- wide survey in even-numbered years and a more relaxed inventory in odd-numbered years. Volunteers for this project will meet throughout the summer, generally every two weeks, to compare notes, ask questions, and build community around these communal birds. Our goal is to determine how many young birds fledge each year and to capture any other interesting tidbits that arise... which they always do! It is important for folks at WNMU to know that these birds are special and that we care about their welfare and want to keep them safe.

If you decide to volunteer, what would that involve? Volunteers will choose a section of the campus to monitor weekly. This time interval is chosen for folks new to breeding biology observation because it provides the most continuous information over time. If a week needs to be missed, no worries. It all works out in the end. Volunteers are welcome to work in pairs, which can be especially helpful if you would each like to alternate weeks in your observations. At the end of the season, around mid-August, we tally the total number of fledglings to get an idea of how many nests were successful! The birds usually arrive in mid to late April, and we will begin our observation sessions then.

Please consider attending the Cliff Swallow program on May 8 at 7:00 pm at WNMU’s Harlan Hall. Watch our Events page for more info to come!

If you would like to volunteer with this project, please contact Carol Ann Fugagli at: cfugagli@gmail.com. No experience necessary, just an inquisitive mind!