A Marathon Review of a Marathon Year for the Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative
It cannot be stated enough times how astounding the efforts of MCSI’s volunteers are each year. Each year we are astounded by the continuing, and in many cases, increasing efforts to get out and watch chimneys, from The Pas to Emerson. A review such as this, will not catch the full magnitude of your achievements, but we will regardless try to capture a sense of what has been achieved over the past few months, from a May, through almost drought-like conditions, to the smoky August skies.
It goes without saying that the season appeared to struggle to get going. A late winter flourish, cool temperatures, and few swifts did not bode well for the season. However, things picked up quickly, swifts arrived, spread out across Manitoba, and even turned up in new places. Below, we summarise what was seen in each town and city.
Baldur
Cal saw a single swift on June 10th. He looked again later in the season, but alas, there were no swifts around. Maybe this was a non-breeder dispersing? Maybe there was a breeding attempt which failed early? We will never know, but thanks Cal for trying!
Brandon
Margaret and Millie continue to watch the breeding site on Princess Street, and continue to get some success. On August 13th, they confirmed breeding, with 2 fledglings in the air. Interestingly, there only ever seem to be two swifts in Brandon.
Birtle
A new town for swifts, Lynnea spotting four on July 20th while waiting her truck to be repaired.
Carman
Matt confirmed earlier in June that the two sites were occupied. Frank, Jacquie and Lewis watched the chimneys on July 4th. There were 8 swifts roosting for the night at the Memorial Hall, and 4 in the private residence. It was possible that the private residence was occupied by 2 adults with 2 helpers.
Clearwater
Frank and Jacquie did visit the two chimneys in Clearwater in May, but alas, there were no swifts around.
Dacotah
Funny one this! Barbara was visiting family in this area on September 8th, and spotted 7-10 swifts in the air. Where they came from, where they went, is anybody’s guess, but still worth noting in-case it triggers a memory somewhere!
Darlingford
Paul watched the chimney at the school twice during the summer, a pair roosting in June, and entry-exits detected during the day in late July. This is a regular breeding site.
Dauphin
Ken and Jan have ploughed this lone furrow for years. One chimney, and one committed pair of swifters, watching this single site. Not in 2018! Two new sites were discovered, and a few new volunteers have come forward to help with monitoring. Brilliant news! The large roost peaked at 34 on the 25th July, an odd date for a peak! The spring roost was slow to pick up, only one on the 31st May, followed by 21 on the 4th June.
Dominion City
Mid-July swift road trip. Tim driving, Chris in the passenger seat and Lynnea in the back. Enter Dominion City, an old town near the US border, and almost immediately a swift is spotted. A drive around the corner, and ‘BOOM’, the swift drops into a lovely old brick chimney on a charming old house. A second entered, and we had our nesting attempt. More swifts were in the air, at least one other pair seem to be in this town. Another one to return to in 2019.
Emerson
A night out in mid July, a single tantalizing glimpse of a swift, but no swifts diving into chimneys. Chris, Lynnea and Tim came close, but did not hit the chimney-entering jackpot. However, all is not lost. A visit in September found a number of possible sites, and we will be back in 2019 to finish the job. Maybe the swifts are in West Lynne east of the river? Maybe they are in Pembina south of the border (enter wall joke at this point), or maybe they are shaking hands in the Emerson Masons Lodge. This is not over!
Eriksdale
Ken was taking a lunchtime break on his farewell tour of Red-headed Woodpecker sites when he came across a wee church in Eriksdale, and a pair exhibiting breeding behaviour. Another new site, another new town, and another success for 2018!
La Broquerie
David, also known as the La Broquerie Bard for his odes to swifts, managed a very impressive 12 visits to the St Joachim Roman Catholic Church. That is a lot of swift data! His highest total was 19 swifts, 15 in the large chimney, 4 in the small, on July 23rd. The church appeared to be used as a roost for migrating birds in the fall. In terms of breeding attempts, there was certainly attempts in both chimneys, and possible fledglings in the small chimney. La Broquerie was also the subject of some early season mystery, with additional birds in the air, but not in the chimney.
La Salle
2018’s greatest swift saga, the La Salle pair fought, argued and fell out throughout a summer of lovers tiffs. At least one helper was on site throughout the season, and Rob and Barb eventually confirmed a successful breeding attempt on August 1st.
Lac du Bonnet
Diann and Cam watched the bakery and the Casey’s Inn chimneys. Another town with more swifts counted in the air than in chimneys. Both chimneys mentioned previously had swifts occupying them in 2018, but not necessarily on the same evening.
Lockport
Tim and Nicole were at an event launch one sunny afternoon in early June when they spotted swifts in the air over the St Andrews Dam. Eventually a swift was spotted through binoculars dropping into a chimney on the east side of the river. Gerald confirmed subsequently that two chimneys on this building were being used, and a breeding attempt was underway.
Lower Fort Garry
Two successful nests, nothing much else happened here. Nia, Linda, Gerald, Frank, Jacquie, Christian and the Parks Canada folk begged to differ.
Manitou
‘tis a mystery Manitou. Seemingly swifts, but seemingly nowhere to be seen. A blitz evening in late June, with David, Lynnea, Frank and Jacquie, turned up zero swifts, although two monitors heard some distant chittering. Another attempt by Paul in late July also ended in a zero, although that was a daytime watch.
Melita
A quiet year in Melita, but Christian and Lynnea did confirm another breeding attempt at the Legion Hall on June 16th.
Morden
What a successful year in Morden! David worked hard at it, and eventually he was rewarded with our first ever confirmed site. This was in Lucky’s Chinese Restaurant, and a breeding attempt was well underway in June and July. David also checked a couple of sites out, as did Paul. One of those sites, the Pembina Arts Centre, drew a number of blanks earlier in the season, until one evening in late June, 10 swifts entered. This is at a time during the season when we would expect non-breeders to begin dispersing to new areas.
Neepawa
Oh Neepawa, why do you tease us so? It was way back in May that Tim first spotted a pair of swifts over the hospital next to a fine specimen of a chimney. Surely they would enter? Well following a few visits by Rick, it was apparent they were going to tease us still. There always seemed to be a single swift in the air during visits, but the crafty swifts were not going to reward anyone with an entry. Oh, and Linda C also saw a pair of swifts in town in August, so they were there all breeding season. The teases….
Otterburne
Frank and Jacquie were joined by Lewis, Roberta, and Cathy, on occasion to watch the chimneys at Providence College. The maximum number of swifts on site were 5, spread between the three chimneys. A late monitoring trip in July suggested that only an adult pair and a helper remained on site, hopefully leading to a successful breeding attempt.
Pilot Mound
Another place we definitely had swifts (two confirmed sightings over the summer), but alas, we still do not know where they are hanging out. The first sighting was taken off eBird, the subsequent was from Katharine on June 16th. Another one to go back to in 2019.
Portage la Prairie
Gord, with help from Cal and Janice, led efforts to monitor the suite of chimneys in Portage la Prairie again in 2018. Cal sent the following season summary:
‘The Chimney Swift season at Trinity United Church could be described as a bit of a roller coaster. It started out promising with four birds present on May 23 and then up to 11 birds seen on May 30 but with only 4 entries noted. However things settled down a bit with between four and eight birds being seen through most of June and only one pair regularly making same chimney entries. We couldn’t figure out where the two to four other birds were roosting. By mid July only the apparent nesting pair were present but that changed with 6 being seen on August 1 and up to an amazing (for us!) 17 birds the following week on August 8. The majority of these birds were obviously migrants but among them were two fledglings from the one nesting pair. Watching their chimney entry skills or rather the lack thereof definitely made the evening trip into town worthwhile! Maybe next year we’ll be fortunate enough to have another nesting pair.’
Swifts were also confirmed using the Rufus Prince Building, Victoria School, Portage Correctional Centre and the MTS Building.
Selkirk
The Selkirk Birdwatchers Club, brilliantly coordinated be Gerald have done it again! What a wonderful group. The peak count at the large stack at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre was 23, on three different dates in spring and fall. On the same site, the Infirmary, and the Powerhouse were both occupied. 241 Manitoba Avenue was never occupied, but the Lord Selkirk Hotel, and the Main Street apartment both received visitors. The Merchant’s Hotel was also used, culminating in a count of 11 on August 15th. Robert, Donna, Nia, Linda, Linda, Ray, Sybil, Winona, Cathy, Bonnie, and certainly a few others were involved in a brilliant effort.
Souris
10 chimneys were watched on 23rd May by 5 volunteers, with 8 being occupied. The most swifts were counted into the United Church (5), the Murphy’s Pub (4), and the Corner Closet (4). A total of 19 swifts were counted, but there were certainly more than this. Katharine dropped by at the end of her Breeding Bird Survey, and confirmed breeding attempts in two chimneys. Lynnea, Christian, Sabina and Tim monitored with Katharine in May.
Southport
Gord managed to get out to Southport, and the aerodrome, twice. A May visit turned up 3 swifts, and a short visit in August determined that a breeding pair were active.
St Adolphe
Barb puts in an extraordinary effort, watching five chimneys from the early moments of nest building to the final throes of breeding. This year, two chimneys, the SE Club Amical, and Main Street, hosted fledglings. Nesting attempts were made in all 5 chimneys. The SE Club Amical fledging date, July 24th, was the earliest recorded since records began, and the Main Street date, July 28th, was tied second earliest. No swifts were in town on August 15th, again, very early.
Saint-François-Xavier
Mike and Michele watched this chimney throughout the summer, and were rewarded with some excellent information. Breeding was confirmed in the church on August 1st. Before this, the maximum number in the chimney, 5 swifts, suggested that there were helpers on site.
St Jean-Baptiste
Luc was confused early season by the disappearance of birds in the air while watching the church. A bit of sleuthing, and we had a new site, the school (also, I believe Luc’s employers). Luc checked the school again, but alas, they were only recorded on May 28th using this chimney. The church however continues to be one of these regular swift sites, with the maximum of 5 swifts noted on June 6th
Stonewall
Another success for the Breeding Bird Survey. Tim stopped off in town after a morning of bird monitoring, and spotted a swift in the air. Eventually he confirmed that a breeding attempt was ongoing in the chimney found by Ken in 2016.
Steinbach
Keelie watched the chimney at the Bethesda Hospital four times, and counted a maximum of 3 swifts. Steinbach was another place where additional swifts remained unaccounted for.
The Pas
Joel watched a swift diving into the chimney at The Via Railway Station in The Pas on June 25th. A second swift was also in attendance.
Wasagaming
Chimney Swifts were back in Wasagaming in 2018. Tim and Sabina confirmed nest building, an entry-exit cycle being detected on June 6th. Alex from the National Park later confirmed, from a couple of dead chicks in the bottom of the chimney, that the eggs had hatched. Interestingly, these nestlings were of distinctly different ages, the first being around 7-8 days old, and the second around 14 days. We will hopefully know if other chicks fledged when the whole nest falls.
Winnipeg – City Centre
Here is a hitherto unknown secret. Downtown Winnipeg provides homes for a lot of swifts! The high count, by John, at 303 Assiniboine was 55 on May 31st. There were though plenty of swifts to go around. John found more sites again, a gospel church on William being his best find. There were also new sites on Edmonton, Kennedy, and in the Exchange, plus Ron confirmed that a pair were attempting to breed in a chimney behind VJ’s on Main, one which has been on the database for eons, with no recorded use.
Winnipeg – The Kildonans
East Kildonan is a happening place, swifts using more sites than previously recorded. Among the new sites were a church on Cobourg, watched by Pat and Dave, and a bowling alley, watched at different times by Meredith, Lynnea and Adam. Garry monitored the chimney on Watt until the brood fledged, and Rudolf finally confirmed use of chimneys on Brazier and Henderson. Further north, the first active site in North Kildonan was discovered by mishap (‘PUT THE SWIFTS BACK IN THE CHIMNEY’), and a site was found in West Kildonan, at the Kildonan United Church.
Winnipeg – Fort Garry
Little monitoring was done in Fort Garry in 2018. Lynnea watched both the Flag Shop and St John’s, and confirmed use in both. Tim also had an incidental exit from the Cambridge Hotel on Pembina.
Winnipeg – Fort Rouge
As with Fort Garry, efforts were switched elsewhere in 2018, following the bonanza of new sites in 2017. Tim found two new sites in chimneys which were meant to be screened on River and Clarke. Lynnea tried to find swifts from her balcony, but alas, no one took the plunge into the several chimneys which she could see. Patricia and Marie-Eve managed to get out a couple of times, and spot swifts into 424 River. Sabina confirmed that the Trinity Baptist Church is still occupied, and Lauren tried, but lucked out at the Fontana Apartments. In Corydon, Leah came in late in the season, and confirmed that the apartment at 915 Corydon were hosting a breeding pair.
Winnipeg – North End
The North End is not an area that many would think to look for swifts, but why not? There are swifts over the Red River in East Kildonan, and there are swifts just to the south in the downtown area. Tim found swifts on Main Street in July and August, and tracked down a late season breeding attempt at the Ukrainian National Federation. There were also some very nice chimneys east of Main Street in the neighbourhood. Well worth a look in future years!
Winnipeg – River Heights and Tuxedo
We tried, but the zoo tower remained unoccupied. The conservatory did host swifts until it met its demise. Kelly-Anne had a consistent pair in the Academy site. Katharine finally managed to confirm use of the Wilton Apartments on Grant, three years after her first, seemingly forlorn sighting!
Winnipeg – South Point Douglas
John was the hero, the only swifter out in South Point Douglas again. He confirmed use of 515 and 527 Waterfront, but also tried a number of other places, but to no avail.
Winnipeg – St Boniface and St Vital
A quiet year in both these areas, Jessica, Lynnea, Wendy, Justin, Anika, Ward and Marlene all checked some of these sites out during the National Roost Monitoring Program evenings, but, alas, not a swift was to be seen. Later in the season, Barbara and Phil, who were staying at a friends house, watched the chimney at 690 Rue St Joseph, and uncovered a nesting attempt with helpers. Blair stepped in, and confirmed fledging around August 8th.
Winnipeg – St James
Starting with the Assiniboine School Monitors, Adolf, David, Anna, Jake, Don and Beth (plus helpers). Our maximum count in 2018 was 114 on May 19th. As ever, there appeared to be two peaks, the second on June 4th of 107. Always intriguing to see the data ebb and flow on this site. The King’s Theatre, Carillon Towers, Viscount Apartments and Marner Apartments were all occupied at some point in 2018. Jenny watched St Ann’s Church on Hampton in May and June, a pair settling in the repaired chimney. Rob would later confirm that this pair bred successfully. Moving west, and the second centre of activity was around the Moorgate Apartments. This roost peaked in the fall, 12 birds entering on August 14th. Bob and Valerie watched the pair in the New Silver Heights Apartment throughout the summer. A surprise occurrence on June 8th, swifts were flying through holes in pest screens into the chimneys at the Thunderbird and Stanley Park Apartments, both on Portage opposite the Moorgate chimney. New occurrences were found in private houses on Moorgate Street and Traill Avenue, plus another new apartment on Traill, and the Foodfare on Portage. Other monitors in this area were Christian, Lynnea, Sabina, Lewis, Jacquie, Adam, Frank and Tim.
Winnipeg – St Norbert
Blaire had terrific successes during the NRMP period, starting with 6 entries at the Catholic Church on May 23rd. Frank and Jacquie confirmed that a breeding attempt was well on its way at the Behavioural Foundation on July 18th, a phenomenal 17 entries and 14 exits in 95 minutes of watching. Wow! On July 31st, Barb confirmed that birds were still feeding young.
Winnipeg – West Broadway
Tim did some poking around in West Broadway, finally finding an apartment with a chimney, and a breeding pair. This was on July 27th at 634 Broadway. There are a lot more swifts to be found in this area!
Winnipeg – West End
The inestimable John was front and foremost of all searching in the West End. It was a strange year, with occupied sites from 2017 being unoccupied in 2018. However, 486 Sherbrook was still active. Sherry lucked out though at the Foodfare in this area.
Winnipeg – Wolesley
Last, but by no means least, Wolesley. Nicole proved that capping a chimney is not the end, working with My Place Realty to unscreen another chimney at the Fleetwood. Champagne corks were popping when swifts were first observed entering the chimney on June 4th. They were doubly popping, when during a plaque presentation, Nicole confirmed that nesting was ongoing on July 27th. The Lothian Block was also occupied, but unfortunately, and despite the best efforts from Francene, Barbara, Phil and Christian, the Old Grace Housing Coop were not ready to welcome all their residents this summer….
Some Summary Stats
Following that marathon we thought we would finish with a few stats to demonstrate the lengths that volunteers went to in 2018.
Total number of communities monitored in 2018 = 26 (actual monitoring data submitted)
160 chimneys were checked
119 chimneys were occupied at least once in 2018
Total number of volunteer monitors in 2018 (est.) = 100
New MCSI codes: 44
Occupied new sites: 34
- Eriksdale: 1
- Dauphin: 2
- Souris: 2
- Dominion City: 1
- Morden: 1
- St Jean Baptiste: 1
- Lockport: 2
- Winnipeg:
- City Centre, 6
- Fort Rouge, 3
- West Broadway, 2
- St James, 6
- East Kildonan, 2
- North Kildonan, 1
- Tuxedo, 1
- West Kildonan, 1
- North End, 1
In addition, 2 sites previously on database were confirmed as being used for first time, plus a second chimney on a building was used (La Salle RC Church).
Communities with Swifts which were not noted before 2018 (bold for those with confirmed sites):
- Baldur
- Birtle
- Neepawa
- Dominion City
- Eriksdale
- Emerson
- Lockport
- Pilot Mound
A number of volunteers checked additional towns including:
-
- Little Britain
- Rivers
- Minnedosa
- Erickson
- Boissevain
- Minto
- Dunrea
- Virden
- Catwright
- Crystal City
- Miami
- Treherne
- St Claude
- Oakville
- Saint Rose Du Lac
- Fork River
- Valley River
- Gilbert Plains
- Grandview
If you still have some data for us, there is still time to submit it to mbchimneyswift@gmail.com. Please do – every little piece of data helps to draw a picture of the fascinating world of Manitoba’s Chimney Swifts.
Finally, on behalf of the Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative Steering Committee, thank you to every single volunteer for your help and amazing contributions in 2018. Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
— Tim Poole
