Earlier this week marked the end of the National Roost Monitoring Program for Chimney Swifts! Nights 3 and 4 of the program fell on Thursday, May 28th, and Monday, June 1st, respectively. We have summarized what was seen across the province on these two nights and will share the results here.
Once again, we would like to thank everyone who volunteered during this year’s NRMP! Your monitoring efforts have helped us immensely to capture a snapshot of Chimney Swift migration in 2026. As a reminder, if you haven’t yet submitted your data sheets, please send them via email to mbchimneyswift@gmail.com. Don’t worry – if you missed this year’s NRMP, you can still aid in Chimney Swift monitoring by participating in our MSCI Blitzes on June 17th, July 15th, and August 12th. Stay tuned for more information about these monitoring blitzes! Not free on those days or want to monitor more? We’re happy to receive any observations in addition to Blitzes!
Prior monitoring
A number of reports were submitted to us after we shared our recap of NRMP nights 1 and 2 and prior to night 3.
In Winnipeg, Christie heard the distinctive “swoosh” and chittering of swifts in the chimney in her Tuxedo home during the night of May 24th and spotted four flying above her home on the 26th.
On May 26th, Jana was on a dog walk in Portage la Prairie and spotted a pair of swifts entering a chimney that had not previously been monitored, marking our first new site identified in 2026!
On May 27th, Jana and Gordon recorded a total of eight roosting Chimney Swifts between two chimneys on the National Indigenous Residential School Museum in Portage la Prairie. Ron recorded no entries but had a busy daytime watch in St. Adolphe with ten Chimney Swifts, some of which performed V-displays (a behaviour indicating courtship) while in flight, and Purple Martins and Tree Swallows foraging in the air. Lastly, in Winnipeg, Marilyn and Pam checked a site off of our priority monitoring list, observing a pair flying above and one swift entering the chimney at the Good News Fellowship Church in St. Vital during roosting hour.
Night 3 – Thursday, May 28th
As pointed out by Ken in Dauphin, NRMP night 3 was capital-h Hot with temperatures ranging from 27–32°C at the start of roosting hour, this less than 10 days after there was fresh snow on the ground! Despite the heat, it was a nice night for monitoring with clear skies and no rain at most sites.
Overall, volunteers monitored 24 chimneys across Manitoba on May 28th. Chimney Swifts were present at or near 92% of monitored sites, with swifts recorded entering 79% of monitored chimneys. The maximum number of Chimney Swifts recorded in a chimney at the end of roosting hour was eight. Here are the detailed results for each community:
Dauphin
Ken, Jan, and Pat noted ten swifts circling and plentiful airborne insects for Chimney Swifts to feed on in Dauphin. Observing two chimneys, Scott’s Hardware and Hong Kong Café, the group recorded one pair of swifts entering each.
Lac du Bonnet
Jeff and Sue returned to Gran’s Bakery and Casey’s Inn, this time in hopes of catching Chimney Swift activity during sunrise at this pair of priority sites. Unfortunately, swifts were absent on this brisk 13°C morning.
Morden
Marvin recorded two Chimney Swifts in the sky near Lucky’s Chinese Restaurant during roosting hour, but neither entered the chimney there.
Otterburne
Ron observed three chimneys on Providence College’s Hanna Centre building, reporting a total of 15 Chimney Swifts at the site with 12 recorded in the chimneys at the end of roosting hour. Six swifts roosted in the Skinny SE Chimney, five in the Large SW Chimney, and one in the chimney near the bell tower.
Selkirk
Five teams watched six sites at the Selkirk Mental Hospital on night 3. Program Assistant Brooke and Tanner spotted eight Chimney Swifts near the Stack Replacement Tower (T04) but only a single swift remained in the tower at the end of roosting hour. Dennis and Patti watched two chimneys, reporting 11 swifts total at the East infirmary chimney, with five in the chimney at the end of their watch, and two swifts at the Infirmary-attached Tower (T03), both of which tucked away in the tower for the night by the end of roosting hour. Nia counted three Chimney Swifts at the Powerhouse/”Yellow Brick” chimney, one of which was in the chimney at the end of watch. Lisa and Monty observed the Smaller East Tower (T02) and reported 11 swifts in total, five in the tower at the end of roosting hour. Finally, Winona reported three swifts in total and two in the Taller West Tower (T01) at the end of watch.
St. Andrews
Gerald watched two chimneys, the Lower Fort Garry Men’s House and Furloft chimneys, counting five Chimney Swifts in total. Three and two swifts remained in the Men’s House and Furloft chimneys, respectively, at the end of roosting hour.
St. Jean Baptiste
Program Assistant Gibson noted many bugs in the air and high numbers of martins and swallows foraging above the banks of the Red River before dusk. Seven Chimney Swifts were recorded in the air near the Paroisse Catholique, of which four were present in the chimney at the end of roosting hour.
Winnipeg
Charleswood/Tuxedo/Westwood
Tai reported seven total swifts at the Canadian Mennonite University, with four settled into the chimney at the end of watch.
Daniel McIntyre
Nicole and Cainobserved the Fleetwood Apartments South chimney and Lothian Block Apartments, reporting a total of four swifts in the area. At the end of roosting hour, two swifts were present in the Fleetwood chimney, and the Lothian chimney was empty.
East Kildonan/Elmwood
Alexia watched the MMF Artificial Tower at 385 Henderson St. and reported two Chimney Swifts at the site, both of which entered the tower to roost for the night. Rudolf watched the chimneys at the Northdale Shopping Centre and had two fly-bys for a total of 5 swifts, but no entries or exits into any of the chimneys.
Fort Rouge/East Fort Garry
Breanne watched Granite Gates apartment building on Balmoral Ave., where ten swifts were present, but an empty chimney remained at the end of watch. Meanwhile, Chantel and John monitored the visible and invisible towers at River Manor Apartments; 19 swifts were recorded between the two sites, with eight and four roosting in the visible and invisible chimneys, respectively, at the end of roosting hour.
St. Boniface
Program Coordinator Mackenzie watched the Kaljieb Electrics chimney, spotting five swifts. Two Chimney Swifts were settled in the chimney at the end of roosting hour.
St. Norbert
Blaire reported seeing five Chimney Swifts at the St. Norbert Behavioural Health Foundation, but only two remained in the chimney at the end of watch.
Between NRMP nights
A handful of watches were completed between nights 3 and 4.
On May 29th, Gerald recorded two Chimney Swifts roosting in the North Chimney of the St. Andrews Lock and Dam Powerhouse. This same day, in Winnipeg, Garry reported seeing a total of three swifts, one of which remained in the chimney at the end of roosting hour, at 712 Watt St. (formerly Pro-Tac Roofing).
In St. Adolphe, Ron spotted eight swifts in the air above Brodeur Bros. during the morning and early afternoon of May 30th. Ron did not record any Chimney Swifts entering nor exiting from the chimney during this time.
Dave counted six Chimney Swifts above his home in Dominion City and reported that they’re back nesting in his chimney. He’s keeping an eye out for a potential second roosting site nearby.
Night 4 – Monday, June 1st
Breezy in places and cloudy at most sites, but with no rain and more mild temperatures (ranging 23–26°C) during roosting hour, NRMP night 4 was a great night for Chimney Swift monitoring across the province.
26 chimneys were watched on June 1st, with Chimney Swifts seen at all sites! Swifts were recorded entering and remained in 78% of chimneys at the end of roosting hour.
Dauphin
Ken, Jan, and Pat watched the chimneys at Harrison Computer Services (Malcolm Block Building) and the Watson’s Art Centre. They observed three swifts entering the Art Centre chimney, with one exiting just before the end of roosting hour, but no Chimney Swifts at Harrison Computer Services.
Otterburne
Ron observed the chimneys at Providence College again, reporting a total of 24 Chimney Swifts at the site during this “wild and crazy evening”! All 24 swifts were tucked into the chimneys by the end of roost hour, with 15 roosting in the Skinny SE Chimney, five in the Large SW Chimney, and four in the chimney near the bell tower.
Selkirk
All six chimneys at the Selkirk Mental Hospital were monitored once again! Nia and Linda recorded five and six swifts in the Powerhouse/“Yellow Brick” chimney and the stack replacement tower, respectively, at the end of roosting hour. Dennis and Patti counted three swifts in the Infirmary-attached tower and four in the Infirmary East Chimney at the end of their watch. At the Smaller East Tower (T02), Lisa and Monty counted six swifts throughout the night and, while only two were in the chimney at the end of watch, they could still hear swifts at the end of roosting hour. Fred and Nettie watched the Taller West Tower (T01) and counted two swifts in the tower by the end of their watch.
Winona also observed the apartments at 367 Main St., counting four swifts near the site but no entries to the chimney.
St. Adolphe
Barb and Rob did a short daytime watch of the Old-style tower, St. Adolphe RC Church, and Brodeur Bros. chimneys. They counted 11 Chimney Swifts in the air at the sites, noting courtship behaviour (V-displays), foraging, and several fly-bys at each chimney, but recorded zero entries.
St. Andrews
At the Lower Fort Garry Men’s House and Furloft chimneys, Garry recorded five Chimney Swifts in total with two roosting in each chimney at the end of watch.
St. Jean Baptiste
Luc observed nine swifts at the Paroisse Catholique. Six swifts were settled in the chimney at the end of roosting hour.
Winnipeg
Charleswood/Tuxedo/Westwood
Graham and Seika recorded three swifts at the at Canadian Mennonite University but no chimney entries, noting a robin perched on the chimney during parts of roosting hour.
Jo and Betsy also saw three swifts at the Assiniboine Park Tower, all of which entered the chimney to roost.
Daniel McIntyre
Nicole counted six Chimney Swifts in the air at Fleetwood Apartments and had multiple people pass by to enjoy the “vocal display”. After things calmed down, two of these swifts quietly entered the South chimney near the end of roosting hour and remained there until the end of watch.
Fort Rouge/East Fort Garry
John described “absolute chaos” at River Manor Apartments as 56 Chimney Swifts swirled in the air above the site; 53 swifts entered the visible chimney and the other three were in the invisible chimney by the end of roosting hour.
North Kildonan
Program Assistant Brooke watched all three chimneys (North, East, and South) at the McBeth House, counting a total of four swifts at the site. Only the North chimney saw any use, with two Chimney Swifts roosting at the end of watch.
St. James
At Moorgate Apartments, Program Coordinator Mackenzie observed eight swifts foraging and performing fly-bys, but no chimney entries.
St. Norbert
Program Assistant Gibson and Ryan observed five Chimney Swifts in the air near the St. Norbert Behavioural Health Foundation. At the end of roosting hour, three of those swifts remained in the building’s chimney to roost.
Other Monitoring
Program Assistants Brooke and Gibson returned to St. Adolphe on June 2nd for daytime nesting watches. Brooke saw eight Chimney Swifts in the air but no entries to the Brodeur Bros. chimney. Gibson counted one entry to the Tower, but no use of the church’s chimney. Brooke also counted eight swifts during a watch at Club Amical and noted a maximum of three and two swifts inhabiting the NE and SE chimneys, respectively. Finally, Gibson observed four Chimney Swifts flying near and one entering the chimney of the Main Street private residence. Brooke and Gibson noted swifts gliding on strong gusts, robins and doves perching on chimneys at various times, and courtship behaviour (V-displays). Barb strongly suspects nest construction is ongoing in both chimneys at Club Amical and the private residence and is hopeful for the rest of the sites!
Jana performed a roosting hour watch at a private residence in Portage la Prairie on June 2nd, following stormy weather (thunder and lightning!). Thankfully, the rain paused long enough for Jana to record seven swifts at the site, two of which had settled into the chimney at the end of roosting hour as the rain started up again.
Jana also watched the small chimney at the Portage Corrections Centre during roosting hour on June 3rd and observed nine swifts, reporting four in the chimney at the end of watch.
Overall
Thanks to the efforts of our volunteers, 35 chimneys/towers were monitored across NRMP nights 1–4 with roosting confirmed at 23 of these chimneys. The three sites with the highest numbers of roosting Chimney Swifts were: Selkirk Mental Health Centre Smaller East Tower (T02) (9 swifts) on night 2, Providence College “Skinny” Chimney (15 swifts) on night 4, and the River Manor Apartments visible chimney (53 swifts) on night 4.
Another big thanks to everyone who volunteered during this year’s National Roost Monitoring Program!
Here is our updated Priority List for monitoring.
If the above link doesn’t work for you, try the following shared Dropbox link:
- Gibson, Program Assistant
