Bats or birds? August around 7:30 pm old building in St. Louis, Missouri (1 Viewer)

[midwestmidge]

Hi! I live in St. Louis MO and have seen a large swarm of flying creatures outside of my apartment. They come out about when the sun starts to go down and fly in circles around the building, and dive into the chimney. I live in the top floor apartment and we recently had a bat in our hallway, probably got in from the roof. My first thought was that this was a large group of bats, particularly by their size and way of flying. But could they possibly be chimney swifts? I am a bit concerned if that large number of bats is living just next door to me!

Let me know your thoughts!

 

[Indobirder]

Look like swifts to me.
Not sure if this is normal behaviour...

 

[KC Foggin]

It sure sounds like Bat activity. I used to watch them every evening doing the exact same thing.
Hi there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum
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[tconzemi]

They are clearly swifts, diving into the chimney to sleep there

 

[Butty]

Just wondering why, if they did happen to be bats, you would be 'concerned'?

 

[tconzemi]

Just wondering why, if they did happen to be bats, you would be 'concerned'?

Common mix-up of Batman and Spiderman: once and for all, no, Batman was not bitten by a bat 😇

 

[johnallcock]

There's no reason to be 'concerned' about having bats living nearby. If anything, it would be a benefit to you and your neighbours by helping to control the numbers of pest insects in the area.

 

[Butty]

...and, even more, just because it's nice to have wildlife around.

 

[nartreb]

The concern with bats would be rabies. While the chances of any bat having rabies are extremely low, they're the leading vector for human rabies in the US (which means they're responsible for about one human case a year). The problem is that rabies can be transmitted through a tiny bite that goes unnoticed, while you sleep. By the time you notice any symptoms, it's too late for treatment.

If bats are getting in to your bedroom, have a firm talk with your landlord.

/Have personally slept in the open with bats around, many times, without vaccine. But recently had to pay for a very upset tenant who vaccinated their child on doctor's advice, after the child woke up to a bat in the room and also had a scratch on her face of uncertain origin. (I knew there were flying squirrels in the subroof, didn't realize there were bats too, or that they'd squeeze through the ceiling fixtures into the bedroom. One of those "that hole in the eaves is small, and it's so high up... I'll fix it later" situations.)

 

[Kratter]

Chimeny Swifts roost at night in chimenys, and in the late summer they often have pre-migration roosts with great numbers (can be >1000 birds) . Just before dark, they emerge seemingly out of nowhere and enter by spiraling/tumbling downwards into the chimeny.

 

[Butty]

they're responsible for about one human case a year

Which means we (you) can all have bats as our (your) best friends. Hoorah.