Swifts are still here, and the reports are still flowing. Here is the latest monitoring news from the chimney tops of Manitoba.
We start at the Assiniboine Park Zoo. Kelsey sent this report on Thursday morning via text:
‘I think there might be fledging at the zoo. I have 2 bird with feathers missing on their wings and a third cleaner looking bird that took 3 shots to get into the chimney’
For those unfamiliar with swift biology, the adult birds moult during the breeding period, and if you look closely in binoculars, you can often see the missing wing feathers. However, fledging birds do not moult and have clean looking wings. The second part of the text re. the 3 three attempts to enter the chimney is very typical of an inexperienced bird. We therefore believe (unless Barb tells me otherwise) that Kelsey has confirmed that at least one Chimney Swift has fledged from inside this tower.
Katrina also watched the same chimney that same day, and 3 birds continued to be observed in the area.
in Brandon, Margaret and Millie continue to watch the Orange Block. They sent the following update from Tuesday evening:
‘Princess Ave was busier than on Sunday nights, but not distracting. Insects are in short supply!!’
2 swifts continue to use this site.
Frank and Jacquie braved the (not so) coming storm at 464 St Mary Avenue and 274 Osborne on the 31st. Unfortunately, no swifts were seen. Just down the road, Tim noted a single entry at the Granite Curling Club. This was a very early entry, and we suspect all swifts went to bed early that night.
In St Boniface, Blair sent a nice report in:
‘I was back to watch the chimney at 690 St. Joseph for evidence of fledged Chimney Swifts. This chimney was successful last year and seems to be successful again this season.
When we arrived, there were 10 – 11 Swifts in the air. Between 8:35 and 8:53, there were 3 entries. Then 9 swifts were seen in the air for a total of 12 in the area. During the hour the chimney was watched, I recorded a total of 8 entries, with one exit at the very end. This swift did not return to the chimney during the time it was watched.
Previous visits to this chimney this season resulted in only a pair of swifts in the chimney, so with 8 entries tonight, there could be 5-6 young present now.’
In Osborne Village, Barbara and Phil provided another excellent update:
‘We didn’t go out on Wednesday because of the lightning, so these are from Friday.
It looks as though the young have fledged at Royal Oak, and Clarke (My Place) is still active (though they roost very early)‘
Leah also let us know that there were swifts still feeding during daytime at Lower Fort Garry on Thursday morning, and then she even found 7 swifts around Kildonan United Church on Kilbride on her way home.
Finally, Gerald sent the following from Selkirk:
‘Robert and Donna Hempler counted 34 Chimney Swifts entering the large stack at the Selkirk Mental |Health Centre on July 24, a season high number.’
And there we have it. Keep the energy going folks, there is very little time left, and still swifts to find and swifts to count! We suggest that you take a leaf out of Blair’s book, and return to a site you have already monitored before the season ends.
— Tim Poole, Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative Coordinator
