Swifts on the move (and some still in the nest)!
As we near the end of August, the swift counts in many areas are now starting to vary greatly from night to night. Most swifts have now wrapped up their nesting attempts, and the adults and fledglings are gearing up to head south (though there seems to be one site with feeding still ongoing – details in the Lower Fort Garry update below). This is an exciting time of year because you might notice migrating swifts roosting in a chimney that wasn’t being used during the nesting season. As always, keep an eye and ear out and let us know if you have any observations to report!
Dauphin
On August 21, Pat watched the Hong Kong Café chimney during the roosting hour. 7 swifts entered the chimney for the roosting hour. Pat notes: “At several times I saw 7-9+ swifts fling about but when all was said and done, only 7 went down the roost chimney. They were all flying about, chasing each other and then they were gone? I did notice one that tried to go down earlier but it had trouble lining itself up and fluttered off after one attempt so I suspect a YOY” – yep, sounds like fledglings! Great to hear.
Because the number of swifts seen in the sky during Pat’s monitoring session was higher than the number of swifts that were seen entering the Hong Kong Café chimney, Ken was curious to see if some of these swifts were roosting in the Old Scott’s Hardware chimney (which is the nearest known chimney to the Hong Kong Café). Ken monitored the Old Scott’s Hardware chimney the next evening (Aug 22) but did not see any swifts using this chimney. As Ken put it, “the mystery continues!”
La Broquerie
Frank watched the St Joachim Church in La Broquerie on August 18 from 7:50pm-9:10pm. At the large chimney, he saw 2 entries at 8:11pm, 1 entry at 8:18pm, and 2 entries at 8:22pm (5 swifts roosting in the chimney). At the small chimney, he saw 1 entry at 8:06pm, 1 entry at 8:17pm, 1 exit at 8:18pm, 1 entry at 8:24pm, and 1 entry at 8:33pm (3 swifts roosting in the chimney).
The two chimneys at the St Joachim Roman Catholic Church in La Broquerie. Photo by Frank Machovec.
Lockport
On August 17, Gerald watched the St Andrews Lock and Dam Maintenance Compound from 8:00pm-9:10pm. He saw 1 swift rapidly enter the south chimney at 8:54pm. There were no entries or exits into the north chimney.
On August 21, Fred and Nettie monitored these chimneys from 7:30pm-9:05pm and saw no activity.
Lower Fort Garry
On August 20, Gerald watched the Lower Fort Garry sites on from 7:45pm-9:06pm. At the Fur Loft, there was 1 exit at 8:04pm, 1 entry/exit around 8:13pm, 1 exit at 8:18pm, 1 entry/exit at 8:33pm, 1 entry/exit around 8:38pm, 1 entry/exit around 8:43pm, and 2 entries at 8:51pm (2 swifts roosting in the chimney). Seems like feeding activity – this late breeding attempt is still ongoing! We’re guessing that this site should fledge within the next week – we will see what happens.
At the Men’s House, there were 3 entries at 8:39pm, 2 entries at 8:40pm, 1 edit at 8:43pm, 1 entry at 8:48pm, 1 entry at 8:49pm, 1 exit at 8:50pm and 1 entry at 8:51pm (6 swifts roosting in the chimney).
Selkirk Mental Health Centre
On August 17, Patti and Dennis watched T02 from 8:08pm-9:13pm and saw 4 entries between 8:41pm-9:04pm (4 swifts roosting in the chimney).
On August 22, Linda and Nia watched the Yellow Brick chimney and T04 from 7:58pm-9:05pm. At the Yellow Brick chimney, they saw 4 entries between 8:36pm-8:51pm (4 swifts roosting in the chimney). At T04, they saw 3 entries at 8:44pm, 2 entries at 8:46pm, 1 exit at 8:47pm, 1 entry at 8:48pm, 1 entry at 8:54pm, 2 entries at 8:55pm, 1 exit at 9:15pm, 1 exit at 9:16pm, and 1 entry at 9:16pm (up to 8 swifts in the chimney but only 7 swifts in at the end of the roosting hour).
Southport
On August 21, Jana watched the Mynarski House from 7:53pm-8:58pm and saw only 1 swift, which entered the chimney at 8:27pm.
Wasagaming
On August 11, Ellie monitored the chimney at 306 Buffalo Drive from 8:30-9:30pm and saw no activity.
Updated Priority Site List (August 23):
| Community | Neighbourhood | Address | Site | Observer |
| Eriksdale | – | 16 Railway Ave | St John’s Anglican Church and former Eriksdale Museum | |
| Ron B. | ||||
| Marvin & Evelyn K. | ||||
| Swan River | – | 518 Main St | Commercial building | |
| capped | ||||
| Wasagaming | – | 106 Buffalo Dr | Dragonfly Delights Tea Room | |
| Winnipeg | City Centre | 100 Adelaide St | Immigrant Centre Building | |
| Winnipeg | City Centre | 172 Edmonton | Ladywood Apartments | |
| Winnipeg | City Centre | 222 York Ave | Brink’s Canada | |
| Winnipeg | City Centre | 91 Albert St | The Old Market Autonomous Zone | |
| Winnipeg | Fort Garry | 1022 Pembina Hwy | Cambridge Hotel | |
| Ron B. | ||||
| Winnipeg | Fort Rouge | 141 River Ave | Ludlow Court Apartments | |
| Winnipeg | Fort Rouge | 245 Bell Ave | Children’s Education Funds Inc | |
| Tim P. | ||||
| Winnipeg | Fort Rouge | 272 Cockburn St | King George Court | |
| Winnipeg | Fort Rouge | 280 River Ave | Moxam Court | |
| Winnipeg | Fort Rouge | 411 Stradbrook Ave | Lancaster Apartment | |
| Tim P. | ||||
| Winnipeg | Fort Rouge | 834 Grosvenor Ave | Eugene Apartments | |
| Winnipeg | Fort Rouge | 444 River Ave | Augustine United Church | |
| Meredith S. | ||||
| Winnipeg | North Kildonan | 25 Valhalla Dr | Valhalla Gardens | |
| Winnipeg | North Kildonan | 415 Edison Ave | L&B Towers | |
| Ron B. | ||||
| Winnipeg | River Heights | 465A Lanark St | Lanark Gardens | |
| Winnipeg | River Heights | 465D Lanark St | Lanark Gardens | |
| Cam T. | ||||
| Winnipeg | River Heights | 394 Academy Rd | Uptown Lofts | |
| Winnipeg | St Boniface | 780 Elizabeth Rd | Arundel Apartments | |
| Frank M. | ||||
| Winnipeg | St Boniface | 99 Birchdale Ave | Nordale School | |
| Blair R. | ||||
| Winnipeg | St James | 2285 Portage Ave | Foodfare | |
| Donna M., Eugenia G. | ||||
| Winnipeg | St James | 2415 Portage Ave | Essex House (broken pest cage) | |
| Ron B. | ||||
| Winnipeg | West Broadway | 39 Balmoral St | Apartment | |
| Winnipeg | West End | 318 Home St | Mennonite Church | |
| Jeff H. | ||||
| Winnipeg | West Kildonan | 31 McBeth St | McBeth House (A) east chimney |
Thanks everyone!
-Marissa
