As we get into warmer weather, we are beginning to see our little cigar-shaped feathered friends. According to eBird, the first Chimney Swift sightings of 2023 in Manitoba were on May 9th in St. Jean Baptiste (reported by Luc Blanchette) and at Fort Whyte (reported by Marlene Waldron and Ward Christianson). Everyday, we are receiving more sightings of swifts! We have now had sightings in Carman, Dauphin, Selkirk, St. Adolphe, and various areas around Winnipeg such as St. Norbert, Assiniboine Park, Tuxedo, Wolseley, and North Kildonan.
Our official monitoring period begins next week. This year, our MCSI/NRMP monitoring nights are on May 24th, May 28th, June 1st, and June 5th. See our last blog post (https://www.mbchimneyswift.com/spring-has-sprung/) for a detailed run-down of our this year’s updated flexible monitoring approach and a description of the different types of sites we want to monitor.
We are still looking for volunteers to monitor chimneys that are priority for confirming ‘residence’ status as well as chimneys routinely monitored by MCSI, throughout the spring and summer on a schedule that works for you.
We are also looking for volunteers to monitor the following roost sites on NRMP nights:
Providence College (10 College Crescent, Otterburne) May 24, May 28, June 1, June 5
River Manor Apartments (424 River Ave, Winnipeg) May 28, June 1
Assiniboine School (175 Winston Rd, Winnipeg) May 24, May 28
Rufus Prince Building (5000 Crescent Rd W, Portage La Prairie) May 24, May 28, June 1, June 5
If you are interested in monitoring one of these roost sites, please let us know which site you would like to watch and which NRMP nights you are available. If you would like to monitor a priority site for confirming ‘residence’ status or would like to continue monitoring a site you have monitored in past years, email us at mbchimneyswift@gmail.com.
We deeply appreciate all the time and effort our volunteers dedicate to Chimney Swifts conservation efforts. The MCSI could not do it without all of you!
Finally, please welcome Aynsley Woods, our program assistant! Aynsley spent lots of time monitoring Swifts last summer, while working with the Province of Manitoba’s Wildlife Branch. Aynsley was helping us out part-time this winter and will now be with us full-time. We are lucky to have her on board!
Hi folks! It’s been a long winter but it’s finally feeling like spring out there! As the emergence of leaves and the blooming of flowers approach, so too does the return of our Chimney Swifts. Based on eBird reports, they are slowly reaching/passing the Canadian border. You can view updates on CHSW movement at the following link: Chimney Swift – Species Map – eBird
We’ve been hard at work on our monitoring plan for the 2023 season, because we will be trying a slightly different approach than in previous years! This year, MCSI monitoring nights will be held on the same evenings as National Roost Monitoring Program (NRMP) nights (a total of four evenings during a two-week period), with the option to monitor on different dates throughout the spring/summer based on the chimney category as well as the volunteer’s availability and desired time commitment (more details below).
Our MCSI/NRMP monitoring nights for 2023 will be on May 24th, May 28th, June 1st, and June 5th. In case of poor weather, the rain day will be the following day.
Similar to previous years, our monitoring efforts will focus on three categories of chimneys. This includes 1) chimneys that host larger groups of swifts (part of the NRMP), 2) chimneys that are priority for confirming/reaffirming ‘residence’ status, and 3) chimneys that are routinely monitored by MCSI volunteers. Chimneys in category 1 should be monitored on MCSI/NRMP nights, while the chimneys in categories 2 and 3 can be monitored on MCSI/NRMP nights and/or anytime throughout the spring/summer on a schedule that suits the volunteer.
1) NRMP sites
Select chimneys that usually host larger groups of Chimney Swifts (4 or more swifts) are part of the National Roost Monitoring Program (NRMP). These NRMP chimneys only need to be monitored on the four NRMP evenings at the start of the season.
Areas with NRMP chimneys to monitor include:
Carman
Otterburne
Selkirk
Souris
Portage la Prairie
La Broquerie
Dauphin
St Jean Baptiste
Winnipeg – Fort Rouge
Winnipeg – St James
2) Chimneys that are priority for confirming ‘residence’ status
Sites are confirmed as ‘residences’ when they have hosted Chimney Swifts at least once in the last 3 years. Based on this criterion, we have gone through our database and compiled a list of sites that are high priority for monitoring this year. By confirming use of these chimneys by swifts, the structures can be protected as Chimney Swift habitat into the future. These chimneys can be monitored on NRMP/MCSI nights as well as anytime throughout the spring/summer.
Areas with priority chimneys to monitor include:
The Pas
Manitou
Morden
Selkirk
Winnipeg – City Centre
Winnipeg – Elmwood
Winnipeg – Fort Garry
Winnipeg – Fort Rouge
Winnipeg – North End
Winnipeg – North Kildonan
Winnipeg – River Heights
Winnipeg – St Boniface
Winnipeg – St James
Winnipeg – St. Vital
Winnipeg – West End
3) Chimneys routinely monitored by MCSI
Many chimneys that are typically used as nesting habitat by swifts have been monitored annually by MCSI volunteers. Monitoring these chimneys allows us to maintain the MCSI database and continue to gather data on where, when, and how chimneys are being used by swifts around Manitoba. These chimneys can be monitored on NRMP/MCSI nights as well as anytime throughout the spring/summer. These chimneys are not as high priority to monitor as the chimneys in category 2.
We realize that weekly MCSI monitoring in addition to NRMP nights is a big time commitment, so we hope that this approach will make monitoring more sustainable for our volunteers and will allow for flexible monitoring commitments throughout the season. During the remainder of the spring/summer, volunteers can continue to monitor on the schedule and frequency that works for them. This monitoring could include regular monitoring at a specific site and /or ‘special assignments’, such as one-time visits to chimneys that are a priority for confirming ‘residence’ status. Throughout the season, we will use the blog to update this list of chimneys that need ‘residence’ confirmation so that volunteers can be made aware, in real time, of which sites have been checked off our priority list and which sites still need confirmed use by swifts. Volunteers can move around and make the most of their time to confirm the most sites. Almost like a treasure hunt of sorts! A treasure hunt where the prize at the end is protecting important habitat for Chimney Swifts.
If you are looking for a chimney to monitor in your neighbourhood or are willing to travel to a site, send an email to myself (Marissa) at mbchimneyswift@gmail.com. We have more chimneys than monitors each year, and we’d love to have you join our effort to help the Chimney Swift.
Monitors from previous years – please confirm that you will be participating in the 2023 program and if you’d like to keep monitoring the same site(s) as last year or if you would like a different site. I would be more than happy to discuss with you what the most suitable sites would be based on your location, availability, and our monitoring priorities.
NRMP nights and the MCSI nights use the same monitoring protocol and data sheet. We ask that volunteers watch their site starting 60 minutes before sunset until 30 minutes after sunset (90 minutes total). In that time volunteers record numbers of swifts seen in the air, as well as the time and number of swifts that enter and exit the chimney.
The Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative has made available on-line survey forms and protocols for the 2023 monitoring season:
VOLUNTEER RESOURCES are posted on our MCSI website at: http://www.mbchimneyswift.ca/resources.html . There are links to video clips, research/general interest articles, and the all-important “Dashboard Placard” which identifies you as an MCSI volunteer.
Winter has certainly arrived, and today marks the winter solstice. While the winter solstice means that today is the shortest day and longest night of the year, it also represents a hopeful inflection point. The days will now begin to get longer, and before we know it, the birds will begin to make their way back.
With that comforting thought in mind, here are a few swift-related happenings, updates, and newsflashes.
-Barb Stewart, one of our many incredible volunteers, has put together a summary of what happened at the different nest sites in St. Adolphe this past breeding season. You can read it here: Chimney Swift Nest Outcomes in St. Adolphe 2022.
-Interested in learning more about how the use of artificial nesting structures by Chimney Swifts in Manitoba? A fantastic article written by Tim Poole was recently published in the Blue Jay, and details the use of replacement structures at Old Grace Hospital and at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre. The article also delves into how the timing of when these structures are put up can affect how they are used by Swifts.
You can read Tim’s article (“Possible Effects of Placement Timing on the Use of Replacement Habitat by Chimney Swifts in Manitoba”) in our “Resources and Links” area at this link.
-It is never too late in the summer to find Chimney Swifts. On August 24th, after receiving a tip from John Weier, Frank Machovec followed up on some sightings at the Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) to try determine what the swifts were up to. The previous week he had watched a very handsome chimney on site but saw no birds entering it. Later, he returned to watch a large round chimney with a round metallic flue showing above. Frank had assumed this huge chimney was capped but gave it a go anyway. Frank reported:
“After no activity for about half an hour, I had an entry by a single CHSW. A bit later there was frantic duo flying very low (and I mean VERY low) around the chimney. Because of nearby trees and the building, I had trouble maintaining visuals on the birds. I witnessed five apparent entries, but I suspect I missed some low exits to the north.”
Inside the CMU chimney (photo by John Weier)
A new site had been found. Frank shared the information with John Weier, who has some personal connections at CMU. John connected with the building management and managed to get access to the chimney. This was a fascinating chimney. It has a stainless-steel liner at the top. However, when John was able to crawl inside in the fall, he found a spacious interior with brick wall at least up to 25 feet from the ground. At this point it changed to a metal liner for the upper half. The metal liner was about a foot in diameter whereas the chimney at the base was about one metre square.
This was a great find and will be an intriguing site to watch in summer 2023.
-Last but not least, we want to extend another massive THANK YOU to our incredible volunteers. Your time, energy and enthusiasm are incredibly appreciated. We absolutely could not have achieved this successful monitoring season without you. Stay tuned for a summary of the monitoring results in the new year (and please send in any remaining datasheets if you haven’t already).
Hello! My name is Marissa Berard (she/her), and I am so excited to get started as the new coordinator for the Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative (MCSI). This program is so important, and I look forward to getting to know all the incredible, dedicated volunteers that allow this program to exist.
I have had the opportunity to work closely with Chimney Swifts during my time in the Resource Conservation department at Riding Mountain National Park, where I helped coordinate and conduct Chimney Swift and other species at risk monitoring and outreach within the park. I have spent many hours sitting outside the Visitor Centre in Wasagaming, staring at the chimneys and getting puzzled looks from tourists walking by. I can only imagine what thoughts might be crossing their mind… What is that person doing sitting in a lawn chair, staring excitedly at a building? Can she even see anything with all the mosquitoes surrounding her head? I am sure many of you can relate to braving the bugs and the confused bystanders, to look for our Swift friends.
Our new coordinator
While I certainly love Chimney Swifts, there are other birds that also hold a special place in my heart. While working on my honours thesis with Dr. Gail Davoren at the University of Manitoba, I was fortunate to spend two summers in Newfoundland and help out with a variety of seabird research, including with puffins, razorbills and common murres. I love to volunteer at Delta Marsh Bird Observatory, which has really opened my eyes to the variety of beautiful plumages in the bird world, from sparrows to flycatchers to warblers. That being said, my favourite bird of all-time (though my family and friends would argue that I have several of these), remains the black-capped chickadee. Though a common occurrence, I love the chickadee’s lively heartiness and deeply appreciate their perpetual presence on my cross-country ski outings during our long Manitoba winters, even on the coldest of days.
A few other non-bird related things about me… In my spare time I love to cross-country ski, do beadwork, play instruments and watch live music. My first language is French, and I am a proud Red River Métis with family ties to Saint-Boniface, Saint-Vital, and several other communities surrounding what is now Winnipeg.
I will be starting in the coordinator role part-time as I transition from Riding Mountain back to Winnipeg, and will start full-time in October. I thank you all for your patience as I get into the swing of things.
END OF AUGUST – START OF SEPTEMBER BLOG: THE END OF OUR CHIMNEY SWIFT SEASON IS THE START OF NEW BEGINNINGS
The end of the 2022 Chimney Swift monitoring season in Manitoba has arrived. MCSI sends out a BIG shoutout of thanks to everyone who participated in various activities this year. Citizen scientists form the all-important base which we build upon. Your monitoring data informs us about roosting activities and breeding behaviour. You help us identify Chimney Swift habitat, so that protection and restoration can take place. By alerting us to emergency situations, we can respond with appropriate rescue action (that duck falling through a nest site will be a memorable highlight for years to come!).
Good news landed this week from Gerald and Jo who were tracking the Men’s House nest site at Lower Fort Garry. Bundling all of their monitoring reports together gives us the indication that fledglings are on the wing! As usual, there were head scratching moments to figure out. Lucky for us that a cleanout trap at the Men’s House chimney should hold the secrets to verify the breeding outcome in this last-to-fledge site.
Chimney Swift shenanigans appear to be experienced by many of us (dare I say universally?). In her Aug. 23rd report, Winnie Wake recounts a “turnaround analysis” for one of the London, ON, nest sites. Tim, you’re not the only person to have a forehead cleft from dealing with these birds! Here’s what Winnie wrote:
“FSA-SE is a particularly happy surprise. Considered done-for-the-season as a nest chimney a few weeks ago, it has come back to life, with a second nesting attempt! On Aug 16, the report of 7 paired in/outs in 40 mins was interpreted as neighbouring young swifts practising chimney entries. Extra visits (Aug 18, 19 & 20), deeper digging, and photos by Glenn Berry revealed otherwise. Seems that frenzy of ins and outs was carried out by strong fliers and coincided with a very high density of insects flying low around FSA. Parent swifts (photos showed jagged wing edges and bulging throats) were right on the job, grabbing food out of the air and shuttling it into the chimney at top speed. On Aug 23, at least one food delivery was noted and 2 more were observed the next morning. Yet, somehow the wily parents at FSA-SE eluded being counted as in-for-the-night on Aug 23 (perhaps not surprising since their second nest evaded detection during the entire incubation stage!).”
Lastly, but far from least, it is time to extend a warm and hearty greeting to Marissa Berard, our new MCSI Coordinator! Tanshi! Bienvenue! Bienvenidas!
You may have noticed that the MCSI auto-reply to emails changed recently. Marissa will be working 1 day a week now during her transition to fulltime status in early October. After the long weekend, Marissa will reach out and introduce herself to you all.
Thanks again for making the 2022 season such a success. We all look forward to working with Marissa to plan for 2023 – see you at the chimney sites next spring!
AUGUST 24: Going, Going…have your Chimney Swifts gone?
Could this really be the end?
Today’s blog offers a friendly reminder to head out to the chimney sides tonight, a quick summary of recent trends at nest and roost sites, and several info bits on interesting bird research and reconnaissance.
Today is a Wednesday MCSI Swift Watch Day and you may note a big change at your roost or nest site. Maybe you will see no Chimney Swifts. Sigh. Remember, those valid zero counts – the zip, Nada, nothing to see here folks’ moments – are as important to harvest at the end of the season as they are at the beginning. Departure and arrival dates are all based on seeing no swifts.
Our Manitoba Chimney Swifts are in transition. Most nest sites are now unused during the day after fledglings burst out. However, a few late starting breeders are still feeding non-brooded young (e.g., the Men’s House at Lower Fort Garry where fledging is being tracked by Gerald and Jo). Some roost sites have dramatically dwindled in numbers (e.g., first noted by the Dauphin monitoring crew of Ken, Jan, Pat & Marilyn). I am chasing the St Adolphe flock to find a pre-migratory roost. Many other people in many other locations are continuing the swift quest missions. Thanks for all your efforts!
There is much to do to wrap up the season and it’s not always fun monitoring. Seeing nothing at the season’s end is bittersweet. You don’t want the birds to be caught short if bugs disappear before the last fledglings emerge and after other Chimney Swifts move further south. BUT there is always the pleasure of seeing a swift just one more time…
Moving along to birdy news from afar, there have been interesting issues reported in the media:
Even our urban adapted Chimney Swifts have tolerance limits to noise. We have found that the birds are sensitive to loud, random “jackhammering” noises and will avoid using their nest sites during times of noisy nearby construction.
Our Manitoba Chimney Swifts are on the move but not in the numbers that would create “roost rings” (in our dreams!).
Tim has flown over some intriguing information about tracking movements of tagged Chimney Swifts:
MOTUS is an automated radio telemetry tech now being established across North America and established by Birds Canada. Put simply, a network of receiving towers has been set up across the continent (including about 14 in MB) and these receive signals from a radio transmitter deployed on a bird which records the approximate location (usually within 20-30 km of the tower). It does not give fine-scale habitat info but it does tell us where birds migrate. More info at https://motus.org/about/
A receiving tower was recently established at the Ellice-Archie Community Pasture in early July – the feds are monitoring Bank Swallows and grassland SAR. It turns out that a CHSW tag was pinged at the MOTUS Tower on Ellice-Archie on July 24th. I guess there’s always a chance there’s a tech mishap but the following is potentially fascinating. The tag was deployed on a swift in Beloeil, QC, near Montreal, on May 19th. The last detection in QC was at another receiver near Montreal on June 11th. The bird was not detected again until it turned up in western MB on July 24th! It was only pinged once here and then it disappeared again before being detected at a tower south of Tampa on August 11th. This is all publicly available info so thought you would all be interested in hearing about the amazing swift journey.
That’s a wrap for this week. Send your monitoring reports along as we track the final phase of the 2022 season! Things will likely wrap up at most sites by August 31-September 7 (unless our keen-eyed Selkirk Birders spy swifts later in the season again this year).
AUGUST 17: WINGS ARE BEING SPREAD…UP, UP, AND AWAY!
This is a very short blog to cover some important ground and airspace…here are the three news items for today:
First, we are flying a BIG shoutout of appreciation to Ariel who finishes her work term with MCSI today! Ariel has been with us for two summer seasons and ably assisted in a variety of work that is essential to keeping our programs running so smoothly. Thanks, Ariel, for being part of our team!
Second, our Manitoba Chimney Swifts have hit an inflection point for end of season activity. Big changes have been observed. Roost sites have reduced numbers e.g., in Dauphin, other more southerly nest sites have emptied post-fledging, and the late fledging sites e.g., SE Club Amical site which had fledglings launch on Sat. Aug. 13th, were unused during the day today (some roosting activity may continue for a short time yet). So, we are on the home stretch for the ’22 Chimney Swift season.
Third, it’s Wednesday and that means it’s an MCSI Swift Watch Day. Enjoy some of the last encounters with our birds before migration takes place. Keep your monitoring observations flying in and we’ll be sure to let you know when those birds fly out of our Manitoba skies!
This blog entry will cover data recorded from July 22nd till the present, covering a little under 3 weeks of monitoring data.
In Winnipeg, Jacquie and Frank Machovec monitored the site at Transcona Collegiate on July 28th. They saw multiple entries and exits consistent with 3 swifts using the chimney. On August 1st, Garry Budyk watched 722 Watt street during the day and saw 3 entries and 2 exits. He wrote that he thought there are most likely two birds in this chimney. On August 3rd, Blair Reed watched the chimney at Springs Christian Academy both during roosting hour and during the day. In the daytime, he observed3 entries and 2 exits, but admits he may have missed a third exit. In the evening he observed 7 entries and 5 exits, leaving 2 in the chimney at the end of the night.
Patricia Start monitored the chimney at the Watson Arts Centre in Dauphin on both July 29th ad July 30th. On the 29th, she saw 1 entrance and 5 exits, writing in her email that she may have missed additional entries. On the 30th, she spotted one exit and three entries. After moving to a breezier spot to get away from the heat, she saw 2 more exits. On August 6th, Pat monitored the Hong Kong café and saw entries and three exits.
In Brandon, the North Chimney at 1203 Princess was monitored by Sandy Homineck, Louanne Reid Glennis Lewis and Gillian and Gwynn Richards. They monitored on July 27th and August 3rd. On the 27th, 10 entries and exits were observed during the evening with 2 birds in the chimney at the end of the night. On August 3rd, 12 entries and 9 exits were observed, with 2 confirmed and possibly a 3rd swift in the chimney.
In Selkirk, Aditya Gandhi was at the Selkirk mental health centre on August 2nd and 3rd to watch the courtyard tower and the tall tower during the day. The tall tower had 5 entries and 5 exits. With 1 exit coming after another after only a single entry, indicating 2 birds were using the chimney. At the courtyard tower, Aditya observed 2 entries and 2 exits. Nia Massey and Linda Adie covered some chimneys at the Mental Health centre on July 28th. Linda watched the powerhouse tower and saw 1 entry. Nia’s chimney quite a bit busier, with 12 entries and 8 exits over the course of the monitoring period. The night ended with 4 swifts in the chimney. On August 3rd, Nia, Linda and Gerald were all back for more monitoring, along with Robert Hempler and Winona Hook. With many volunteers present, most of the chimneys and towers on the site were monitored that day. Gerald watched the courtyard chimney, which had 8 entries and 6 exits, leaving 2 swifts in the chimney at the end of the roost. Nia and Linda watched both the yellow brick chimney and the stack replacement tower. The yellow brick chimney had 11 entries and 6 exits, with 5 remaining. The replacement tower had 3 entries and 1 exit, leaving 2 in the tower. In the same evening, Robert and Winona watched the infirmary chimney and observed only 2 entries, most likely going in for the evening. Robert Winona and Gerald also had eyes on the “tall tower”. They observed 5 entries and 4 exits, one after another over the period of an hour. 1 remained in the chimney at the end o the monitoring period.
On July 29th at Lower Fort Garry, Gerald Machnee watched the new chimney on the Men’s House and observed 3 entries and two exits during at 85-minute monitoring period. At roosting hour, there was 1 swift in the chimney. More recently, on August 3rd, Tim Poole visited Lower Fort Garry and watched the new site at the Men’s House. He saw 4 entries and 4 exits in 1 hour, indicating that the swifts were feeding their young. Then, on August 5th, Gerald Machnee watched the chimney once again and had more activity with 6 entries and 5 exits in the evening.
Thanks to everyone for their continued dedication to monitoring!
“There’s Something Happening Here…What It Is Ain’t Exactly Clear” … (WITH APOLOGIES TO BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD)
Plus, “If It Ain’t One Thing It’s Another” … A.K.A. “A New Playbook Script” (WITH FURTHER APOLOGIES TO GILDA RADNER AND ROSEANNE ROSEANNADANA)
And thankfully, Installments from “The Zone of Which We Are Sure” … (WITH NO APOLOGIES AT ALL!)
What does it all mean?
Since our last update, posted on July 29th, we’ve had a frenetic phase with our feathered friends. This blog shares a few snippets of what’s gone on. Ariel will follow soon with a more detailed account of all your monitoring activities. There seem to have been three themes playing out – two of which intertwine “Huh?” and “What ARE those birds doing now?” moments. Some lovely reports, of Chimney Swifts playing by the book, have also flown in.
In the land of torment, one of our dedicated monitors played “chase the best chimney viewing location”. Three observation sessions made from different vantage points were valiantly made in order to catch both entries and exits. The swifts were cagey and kept shifting exit trajectories. Here’s an excerpt of what our monitor mused:
I went Friday afternoon about 1 o’clock and sat across the street to see what I could see. I swear those birds know the colour of my car and know where I am and are messing with my mind. Because this time they exited towards the parking lot away from me. On Wednesday they exited away from me towards the street…I could see the exits quite clearly because without the evergreen tree in front of them – they exited up and out. The problem this time was I missed most of the entrances. I saw five exits and one entrance. So, I decided to go today (Saturday) and I started out by sitting in the parking lot. Once again, the birds exit away from me through the evergreen tree. I managed to spot one exit and three entrances while I was sitting in the parking lot. It was getting very hot so I either had to go home or move and I decided to move across the street, where there was a nice breeze so it was a little more tolerable…I sat there for about 20 minutes once again the birds decided to exit away from me into the parking lot and I did see two exits but no entries in that time.
Clearly, we need an answer to the question du jour “How DO the swifts do that?”.
Continuing with the theme, some St Adolphe swifts seem to have read the same Torment Your Observer-101 playbook. Two adults routinely leave the SE Club Amical chimney by pouring down the far side of the chimney and then ascending on a difficult to see trajectory away from me. They are the most challenging of all the flock to track (that is a very sanitized description).
It is a humbling experience to learn that Chimney Swifts will do what Chimney Swifts do despite our best efforts. What is a recipe for successful viewing one day, may not be the best approach another day. Keep your flexibility high and adjust your viewing location as the swifts adapt to daily conditions e.g., wind. Also, sun glare may be an issue in one spot more than another at different times of the day.
In an entry for the “What’s Happening Here?” chapter, the two fledglings from the NE Club Amical nest site oozed their way into the Church chimney last week (interestingly, it was the same day the more northerly swifts were tormenting their observer). They approached low and close together, almost beak to tail feather, and dropped in right at the rim. This is a new one for me to report – in previous years, fledglings have taken a rest stop in sites that were unused during the current season or in a site that had a failed nesting attempt much earlier in the season. To have fledglings make a pit stop in a non-natal site that had juveniles in the nest was a first. No harm done – the Church young are still on track to fledge in a couple of days.
In an uplifting report that was certainly not a first, Garry monitored his Watt St site and noted the cadence of activity had shifted. The entry and exit tally plus behaviour observations indicated that fledglings were launched! This site has housed several successful breeding attempts over the many years Garry has devoted to chimney side observations.
In other good news, the Selkirk Mental Health Centre chimneys and towers have been well monitored of late. The dedicated Selkirk Birders ~ Gerald, Nia, Linda, Robert, Donna, and Winona ~ plus Tim and his summer students, Aditya and Aynsley, have put in many observation hours. We are pleased to have fledglings at two nest sites…another breeding pair is still very active and we hope to welcome fledglings from that third site soon.
The last bonus round offering for you today combines good news and a reminder that MCSI staff can be valuable first responders to Chimney Swifts in distress. A call came into the Chimney SwiftRescue Line, 204-803-1523, that a nest had slipped – after a duck dropped through the chimney! Amanda flew out to reposition the Chimney Swift juveniles inside the chimney before plugging the escape route (yes, the duck was removed first). Great work Amanda! The next morning, Ariel observed the site and confirmed that the breeding adults were in attendance. Thanks, Ariel, for following up with that important monitoring!
We have a hot link on the home page of the MCSI website which takes you to the CHIMNEY SWIFT RESCUE FACT SHEET
Different action is taken for nestlings and adults. Chimney Swift parents are the BEST caregivers for their young. So, MCSI makes every attempt to reposition fallen nestlings in their natal chimney for continued rearing by their parents. Chimney Swift rehabilitation is extremely challenging. As humans are not as efficient as avian parents, juvenile development lags in captivity. By the time a Manitoba rehab nestling could be released to the wild, the season has typically ended and no Chimney Swifts remain in the province. That is a huge problem for successful migration.
MCSI will rescue adults who have escaped the chimney shaft and are trapped inside buildings. Remember those start of season reminders to close the dampers and seal escape routes? Adults are attracted to light sources and we want to protect them from leaving the chimney through “unauthorized” portals.
Being a Wednesday, today is a day to head out to the chimney sides ~ daytime or roosting hour ~ and observe Chimney Swifts. Feeding is still underway at several sites, fledglings are becoming seasoned fast fliers and are part of the increased head count at other natal sites, and soon we will see some premigratory groupings form at roost sites. The days are noticeably shorter and the morning air has been crisp. The last few weeks of the season are ahead of us. Keep in touch and let us know what your swifts are doing!
This is a brief news flash: reports of probable and confirmed fledglings have just landed! Other positive updates from our monitors indicate that more first-time fliers should be welcomed soon…
The Yellow Brick Chimney at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre (SMHC) was being used actively Thursday night (July 28th). It is likely that 3 fledglings were tallied in the final roost count of 5 Chimney Swifts. Nia tracked all the fast feathered action. Linda kept her eyes glued to the nearby T4 tower and recorded a valuable datapoint = 1 roosting entry. We’ll talk about what the swifts in those other SMHC towers are doing – later, when we figure it out ourselves!
This morning (July 29th) at Club Amical in St Adolphe, 3 consecutive exits indicated that at least 1 fledgling from the NE chimney was airborne on Day 29 (right on time!). All the exit paths took the swifts away from me and no wing margins could be seen. However, behaviour observations two lots north, at the Church, indicated that 2 fledglings were flying around together. They were just over the Japanese Maple hedges and roof of the Rectory – flap, flap, flap-glide, flap, flap, flap-glide – moving slowly around without any aerial stunts.
Maybe other fledglings have been sighted during your recent monitoring sessions. Send your datasheets and notes along and we’ll be happy to share the good news!
This week, there have been other reports of very active feeding elsewhere. This includes three of the Dauphin sites which Ken, Jan, Pat & Marilyn monitor. Winona also saw feeding exchanges, before the final roosting entries, at the Merchant’s Hotel in Selkirk on Wed. night (July 27th). We hope all these sites remain active and the youngsters launch soon.
The next round of fledging in St Adolphe is due Aug. 11-15, with 3 sites staggered at one day intervals. The young are still in the nest, so I check the sites often and particularly after intense rain storms which may cause nest slippage (yes, another 1¾” poured in again this week). So far so good!
The breeding pair at the Men’s House, west chimney, were both accounted for on Tuesday morning when Rob and I flew in for a monitoring session. The activity pattern suggested incubation was still underway though…here’s hoping that those eggs hatch sooner than later.
The record for the latest known successful fledging in Manitoba belongs to the pair of Chimney Swifts using the T4 tower at SMHC last year. First-time fliers launched from that newly constructed tower ~Sept. 5-9th ( https://www.mbchimneyswift.com/chimney-swift-towers/ ).
It will be interesting to see how our Chimney Swifts fare in August…
