Chimney Swift

The good news is that we have always had chimney swifts nesting in one of the chimney flues in our house. The bad news is that we have always had only 4 to 8 adults each year, with no sign of an expanding colony. One pair usually nests in the west chimney, in the flue used by the wood stove in the kitchen. At times, it appeared that a second pair might be nesting in the other chimney, but the other adults may just be unmated helpers. All 6 chimney flues have bends in them, making it impossible to see from one end to the other. When we have a cold snap in May, we cannot light a fire, for fear of asphyxiating the swifts or causing them to desert their nesting site. When the barn owls left the east chimney to use the attic nestbox, a pair of chimney swifts moved into the flue traditionally used by the male owl. Rearing young in a carcinogen coated chimney has never appealed to me. Someday I will make a chimney swift tower.

Aug 3, 2004 We now have eight chimney swifts performing their aerial display over the house each evening. Their coordinated flights are unlike anything our other swallows do. Is it just for the sheer pleasure of high speed synchronized flight?

2001 Chimney Swift nest camera

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