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 year one funding from the Manitoba government’s Sustainable Development Innovations Fund (SDIF) and year two and three funds from Environment Canada’s EcoAction program.

The project coordinator is Laurel McDonald. She may be contacted by email or through the Nature Manitoba office at 943-9029.

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.

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. Potential 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.

Update from the project coordinator

The 2010 monitoring season is off to a good start. Although swift activity appears to be slightly quieter than last year, 24 active chimneys, smokestacks, and air shafts have been reported so far in Winnipeg, St. Adolphe, Selkirk, Dauphin, Carman, and Portage la Prairie. Carman is a new location this year, with three active sites, one of which was a seasonal spring roost peaking at 38 birds! Please report any additional active sites to me, and don't forget to also report sightings, especially in rural areas!

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!

Chimney Swift Webcam: Click here to watch a live feed of a chimney swift nest in Glenham, New York.

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