Chimney Swift Initiative

Please go to our page on Nature Manitoba's new website:

http://www.naturemanitoba.ca/?q=chimney-swift-initiative

In April 2007 the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) listed the Chimney Swift as a threatened species, and it is now listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act .

Chimney Swifts return to Manitoba around mid-May for the breeding season. They construct their nests in a dark, sheltered place, such as chimneys, barns, hollow trees, etc. The nest is built of twigs cemented together with saliva. They usually lay 4-5 white eggs, incubated by both sexes for 19 - 21 days. The young are altricial (naked and helpless at hatching), and tended by both parents. They open their eyes at 14 days, fly at 24 - 26 days, and leave the nest at 28 days. (Source:www.virtualmuseum.ca).

The Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative has secured funding from the Manitoba government’s Sustainable Development Innovations Fund (SDIF) and from Environment Canada’s EcoAction program.

The project coordinator is Frank Machovec. He may be contacted by email or by phone at 204-798-6275.

Starbuck tower In 2008, we erected swift towers in Starbuck, St. Adolphe, Portage la Prairie, and Winnipeg. In addition to watching these sites, we continue to identify and monitor roosting and nest sites around the province.Click here for a map of tower locations.

Nature Manitoba is pleased to be involved in this project to better understand the causes behind Chimney Swift population declines and hopefully reverse this trend by placing and maintaining roosting and nesting structures..

Volunteers are always welcome to help with this project. Activities include monitoring existing Chimney Swift nesting and roosting sites and the design and construction of roosting towers. Nature Manitoba members and members of the public are urged to become involved with this important initiative.

Updates from the project coordinator

"Swift Notes" blog

Click here for a map of Manitoba locations with sightings in 2011

Click here for a map of active Winnipeg chimneys in 2011

Click here for a summary of monitoring results from 2007 to 2011 -- Winnipeg locations -- non-Winnipeg locations

Click here for a map showing the location of chimney swifts from the Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas.

Resources for volunteers:

"Regular" Montoring Protocol
"Six-Day" Monitoring protocol

Quick reference guide to monitoring
Best practices guide to monitoring

Monitoring form (pdf) -- Monitoring form (Word)
Chimney Assessment form (pdf) -- Chimney Assessment form (Word)

Are you an atlasser? Click here for a guide (produced collaboratively by the MCSI and the Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas) on how to document chimney swift breeding evidence in your square. Please report your findings to both the MCSI and the MBBA. If you are interested in looking for swifts in your square, but don't know of any potential chimneys, we may be able to point you in the right direction, so just ask!

Many thanks to all of you for your time and effort.

Chimney Swifts trio-flying. East Kildonan, June 2007 courtesy Christian Artuso

Videos of swift activity in Saint Adolphe

Down the chimney at Club Amical in Saint Adolphe MB (September 2007) by Ron Bazin and Mike Quigley. (47 seconds)

Some entries and exits of Chimney Swifts at Club Amical in Saint Adolphe, MB. The video was taken in 2007 and is courtesy of the Stewarts. (2 minutes 12 seconds)

Have Chimney Swifts been Nesting in my Chimney?

Chimney Swifts build distinctive nests by using their sticky saliva to glue short pieces of small diameter twigs together. While flying, adults use their feet to break off dead twig ends from nearby trees. The twigs are transferred to the bird's beaks. Chimney Swifts then enter a chimney and fasten the twigs onto the rough, vertical surface to form a small cup-shaped nest.

Nests are located far below a chimney rim to protect it from the sun and rain. One nest in St. Adolphe's Club Amical (2007) was approximately 10' down from the top of the chimney.

If it is safe and convenient to stand on your roof, you can peer down your chimney after the breeding season ends in mid- to late August. Or, you could inspect your chimney before the Chimney Swifts arrive in mid- to late May. Do not disturb nesting birds once they are active in the chimney.
Nests eventually fall down from the chimney wall and small twigs may have dropped during the early stages of construction. Open your chimney cleanout trap to see if any nesting material is present – twigs will appear to be bonded with dried, yellowy glue; there will be no mud present. Broken pieces of small white egg shells and long, tapered, dark feathers moulted by adults are also indicators of nesting Chimney Swifts.

If you find nesting material, be assured that there is no fire hazard. As a nest would fit easily in the palm of your hand, air can circulate in the chimney properly during the heating season.