Join Vicky again, for another recap of this past week of Chimney Swift monitoring…
We are now almost at the halfway checkpoint for the Chimney Swift monitoring season. Swift activity has been picking up, as we have a pile of papers from everyone on this week’s findings! With this week over, the NRMP nights are now completed, good work everyone! Our own chimney swift monitoring program, the MCSI nights, continue. We had sightings in Brandon, Otterburne, Selkirk, Dauphin, St. Francois-Xavier, Portage La Prairie, La Broquerie, and Lockport.
Back on May 30th, Tim Verbiwski and Gerald Machnee made their way to St Andrews Lock and Dam Maintenance Compound where both chimneys were observed. At the south chimney, four entries were noted, and in the north, there was two.
Bonnie Chartier, Tim and Sandy all went out on June 7th to check out the St Andrews Lock and Dam as well. At both chimneys there were two entries and a few flying around throughout the monitoring period.
On June 11th, Gerald made his way to St Andrews Lock and Dam Maintenance Compound. Both chimneys also each had two entries. There was a clear illustration how Swifts enter the chimneys when rain is imminent, as both pairs entered their respective chimneys just before it started to rain.
We have quite a bit of information from Tim and our volunteer monitors from the Selkirk Birders Club. On the morning of June 3rd at Selkirk Mental Health Centre, the three new towers were observed. The only swift entry was in the tower attached to the infirmary building. The other towers had one to three flying above. In the evening, at the same sites, none had any signs of entry but there was still the occasional four to six swifts flying around. Moving on to the June 7th NRMP night, at the same three sites, there was a perfect double entry in each chimney! All during roosting time.
Back on May 30th, Robert Hempler watched the two chimneys at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre Infirmary for NRMP night. While the infirmary chimney had one Swift enter, the tower chimney had none. A couple of Swifts could be seen flying above with one Nighthawk mixed in the crowd. Forward to June 7th, this time Robert went out with Donna to find two Swifts making an entrance in the infirmary chimney, while there were no entries in the attached tower chimney. More than six Swifts could be seen flying above though, I wonder where they went.
Nia and Linda monitored the Selkirk Mental Health Centre yellow brick chimney on the 30th of May for a NRMP night. No entries were noted, but about five Swifts could be seen flying around. They came back to the same chimney for June 3rd (NRMP night) where they saw two Swifts come in quite late to roost for the night. This time there was a max of eight Swifts flying around. The last NRMP night, there were two entries and five to six Swifts flying around.
Tim monitored both the small and large tower chimneys at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre on June 1st, where he observed no entries or exits, but kept note of the growing curiosity the Swifts had in these chimneys. It seems like the curiosity got the better of them, as Tim later wrote in an email the strange happenings on the night of the 10th at the various Mental Health Centre chimneys, “There was definitely a shift last night (June 10th) in swift activity at the Selkirk Mental Health centre. Robert Hempler watched the old infirmary chimney on June 7th for the final NRMP night. In his report, the swifts were mainly behind him, towards the yellow brick chimney and the short tower (2021-T2). Last night (the 10th), the swifts were very active over the large tower (2021-T1) making numerous passes in that direction. In total, eight birds were counted in the air, but there was usually only six or seven accounted for. It was clear something was up when at 8:43 a pair of swifts circled over the top of the tower several times. Over the next few minutes the entire flock appeared to descend over the tower, swirling and chasing around the area. A pair were flying low over the entrance of the tower at 8:52 when one suddenly lunged towards the entrance and pulled away. At this point pandemonium appeared to break out, three swifts were spinning the top and suddenly a fourth appeared, either from within the tower itself, or coming low from behind. It was clear though by this point that the swifts had finally found this tower and finally were taking a very close interest. Regular visits to the tower was followed at 9:22 by a sudden drop into the brick chimney on the old infirmary. This site was being monitored by Robert again. Yet still there were two, three or four birds visiting the top of the tower. At 9:31, three swifts were over the entrance. At last two swifts took the lunge and entered the tower for the night. The drop did not feel too clumsy, suggestive that this was not the first time these swifts had used the tower. The third swift circled the tower several times over the following 10 minutes, at one stage sweeping between it and the old infirmary chimney. This is likely the same swift which turned in for the night at 9:45 in the infirmary, to make it two for that site.”
As I read this email, I could not help but feel like I was reading an action novel!
On the other side of the Selkirk campus on June 10th, Linda and Nia had a late entry/exit at the yellow brick chimney before two roosted for the night. Gerald also recorded an entry/exit at the short tower (2021-T2) but this was earlier in the evening. There was only one swift counted in this chimney, but maybe that early entry/exit was some sort of exchange? In town, Winona recorded two exits early on at the Merchant’s and two came in to roost. The current roost of choice in Selkirk is in the Main Street apartment. Here there were 9 swifts counted by Ray and Sybil.
Tim also noted that the fourth new tower is going up at Selkirk Mental Health Centre. While this new tower is likely too late for swifts to use it during the 2021 nesting season, we know from past observations that once they fledge, young swifts will fly around and check out/ roost in other nearby chimneys. Or perhaps some non-breeding pairs from this year will discover the tower and come back next year to nest. All of the artificial Chimney Swift Towers going up at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre are to mitigate the impact of removing some existing swifts roost and nest sites, which had to be removed due to safety reasons.
Backing up a bit, Ray and Sybil went out on the 30th of May for NRMP at 367 Main Street, Selkirk. They saw no Swifts, and all they could say that night, was that it was cold. Better luck on the 3rd of June, they got nine entries in total this time, but still a very cold night. Finally, a warm night on the 7th, they had a total of nine entries in the chimney again, all at relatively different times, except for the last four that went in as pairs.
Winona monitored the Merchants Hotel in Selkirk on May 30th for NRMP night to see two Swifts making an entrance, eight minutes apart from each other. They entered the chimney directly without flying around. On June 3rd, two entries were observed again in almost the same way as on May 30th but starting at 8:50 this time. On the 7th, there were no Chimney Swift entries at all, but a few flying by periodically. Winona specially notes that it may have been due to possible wasps in chimneys during the time, but was not entirely certain.
Gerald has also been periodically watching southeast chimney on the Fur Loft building at Lower Fort Garry. On the June 2nd for the 2nd MCSI night, there was no view of Swifts nearby, but some Barn swallows did fly by. On June 13th, Gerald headed back to Lower Fort Garry in the evening. There was little activity, but there was an exciting entry of a couple Swifts entering the chimney! You may not have known, but this chimney is plastered in the inside, making nest building difficult for Swifts. Early this spring MCSI, Tim Poole (from the province) and Parks Canada staff tried to solve that problem by installing a false chimney wall – similar to what is found inside the artificial chimney towers, so it is good news to know Swifts are still using it. We are having our other summer student, Ariel check out the southeast building soon as well! Hopefully, we can see if there is some nesting action from the Swifts soon.
Back on May 30th, Breanne, finally caught some Swift action at Maryland Foodfare in Winnipeg. Two Swifts entered the chimney at 9:23 in the evening and 40 were seen in the air! Breanne noted a few pigeons, sparrows, and gulls scattered on different rooftops too.
As of June 7, “The swifts have come and gone” Ken Wainwright writes, as the Swifts in Dauphin leave the roost site and start heading to the nesting chimneys. For the last NRMP night, two chimneys were monitored to have three Swifts each, with a 3rd chimney occupied by a single pair. This gives a grand total of eight Swifts in the vicinity. It was noted that most of the Swifts were more active after sunset rather than in the day.
On June 8, Tami Reynolds and Mike Karakas watched the Assiniboine Park Zoo Tower. They saw three Swifts flying around and eventually three entries into the chimney, all within five-minute intervals.
For the 3rd MCSI night on the 9th, we had Jo and Betsy watching the Assiniboine park chimney. One Swift made an entry at 8:53, and another two at 9:34. A few more Chimney Swifts were seen flying around as well. If you head out to watch the Swifts at the Zoo Tower, you will notice a hole on the side of the chimney. From Jo and Betsy’s observation that hole is being used by Pileated Woodpecker (who they saw enter in the evening). We are not entirely sure what the Pileated Woodpecker is using the hole for (nesting or roosting), but the woodpecker and the Chimney Swifts appear to be co-existing peacefully. Three nighthawks were seen that evening as well!
A Zoo staff member, Kirstyn, came out during the day of the 10th to watch the Assiniboine Park Zoo tower. There were two separate entries and one exit. To make the day a little more troublesome, someone was driving their lawn mower around the chimney for 17 minutes. And ironically, 17 Swifts were seen flying in the air.
Back at the River Manor Apartments (424 River Ave) for the 3rd MCSI night, Barbara and Phil Barnett watched its west chimney. They counted 193 Swifts entries! I have not seen the chimney myself, but I cannot imagine how full it is now. They started flocking in around 9:00pm in batches of 1-4, until 9:40, where many would enter at a time. They described it as an “Extraordinary experience and mesmerizing to watch.”
Jon watched the River Manor Apartments east chimney (“invisible chimney”) on the 3rd MCSI night where there were no entries. Although non-stop chittering could be heard, it all stopped around 9:50 (likely when all the Swifts had entered the west chimney on the same building).
Luc Blanchette watched the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church for the 3rd MCSI night. There were two entries in the chimney, with only one Swift in the chimney at a time. Another Swift was about to go in, but it veered off at the last second! Luc stayed a little later to see if the Swift would try again, but to no avail, as it did not enter in the end.
In Brandon, Glennis Lewis monitored the Orange Block’s small chimney on June 3rd. No action was seen, but later on June 9th, one Swift entered the chimney at 10:01, another two entered at 10:04 and two more at 10:07.
Back in Winnipeg on the 7th of June, Blair watched the Franco Manitoba Cultural Centre, with no Swifts in sight. On the 9th, Blair went out to 188 St. Mary’s Rd to come up empty again. Fortunately, Blair’s most recent outing to 188 St. Mary’s on the 13th came into fruit where two Swifts were sighted making an entry and two more flying in the air!
Beth first went out on June 7th with Jake and Anna to Assiniboine School for NRMP night. They had two separate entries during the monitoring period and a few Swifts flying around throughout the time period. A high of seven Swifts were seen flying at one time at 9:34. On the 9th, for MCSI night, Beth went back alone to watch the Swifts. Another two entries in total that night, and once again, timely appearances of Swifts flying throughout the whole period.
At Chief Peguis Junior High, Lynnea kept watch on June 7th for the evening. The chimney had one Swift come in at 9:20 and another at 9:40. The rest of the monitoring period was quiet.
On June 7, Carl and Debby monitored the Old Grace Housing Coop where two Swifts were seen flying above the centre of the courtyard, but none making their way in or near the chimney.
Ron Bazin, who had watched all three chimneys in Otterburne for the last three NRMP nights, also monitored them for the last NRMP night on June 7th. There were two entries at the chimney near the bell tower, two entries in the large chimney, and four entries in the small chimney. Despite being the smallest chimney, it gets the most action out of the three. Besides the entries, there were eight to ten Swifts flying overhead upon arrival. Noting a definite V-flight by at least two. After that night, Ron makes his way to observe St. Nobert RC Church on the 8th, where a total of four entries into the chimney. Then on the 10th, Ron watched the Fire Hall on Marion, where two entries were observed.
For the 4th NRMP night, we had Amanda check out the Moorgate apartments on Portage. There was a total of four Swift entries and many flying around throughout the monitoring period. Most flew continuously overhead of the chimney.
On June 9th, for MCSI night, Pam watched the St. Mary’s Road United church for the evening and did not see any Swifts.
For the 4th NRMP night, Frank and Jacquie went out to La Broquerie to St Joachim Church to observe in the evening. The large chimney had three entries and the small chimney had five entries. That makes for eight in total that were seen that night. The pair also made way to Transcona Collegiate on the 9th for MCSI night where two Swifts made entries.
I had gone out on the 10th to the Maple apartments with my parents to share the wonderful joy of watching Swifts. There were many times that the Swifts would dive in but pull back right at the last second. It felt like watching a soccer player about to score a goal, only to miss. I had a max of 15 flying at once in the air and two pairs going into the chimney just after sunset at 9:36 pm.
Blaire Barta monitored the Behavioral Health foundation on the 10th of June during the evening. There was a total of two entries, each at separate times. Blaire noted the day before the 10th, there were three in the air around the site. So, that leaves one perhaps spirited away.
Mike and Michele Tumber monitored the St. Francois-Xavier RC Church on the 10th during roosting hours. They observed two entries at 9:31.
On June 11th, Rudolf watched the Rufus Prince building in Portage La Prairie for a short period and saw 12 Chimney Swifts flying around the west end of Crescent Lake. Making his way back to Winnipeg for June 13th, he also stopped by Roxy Lanes and saw three Swifts flying with one swift entering the front (red brick) chimney. MCSI partnered with the owners of Roxy Lanes last year to repair that chimney, so we are doubly pleased that it is being used by the Chimney Swifts again this year!
And last, but certainly not least, on June 12th Nicole Firlotte watched the Fleetwood Apartments in the evening. There were two entries both at 9:48 pm. Nicole also notes earlier in the day, there were three Swifts flying around the neighbourhood. Use of this chimney is also exciting, as it was also repaired under the MCSI program last year as well.
- Vicky
