With the spring arrival of the Chimney Swifts approaching, MCSI presents our last (but certainly not least), Chimney Swift Champion of 2021-2022 – Shawn Charlebois!
Back in summer 2020 one of our Steering Committee members, Ken De Smet was in Swan River. While out and about on Main St, Ken just happened to see a Chimney Swift enter a chimney in a commercial building! This incidental sighting is the first sighting of Chimney Swifts we’ve had in Swan River, and the second most northern sighting in MCSI history (the other was in The Pas). We notice that the chimney could use some repair, so we went about tracking down the owner of the chimney who turned out to be Shawn.
Shawn was pleased to know that the chimney was supporting habitat for a threatened species and was enthusiastic that we could both repair the chimney and protect bird habitat at the same time! Since then, he has distributed various Chimney Swift factsheets for outreach around Swan River. Additionally, Shawn is the first recipient of our new outdoor Chimney Swift Champions sign. This sign is able to be mounted outside on buildings, both to highlight the work of our Chimney Swift Champions and provide a public outreach opportunity right at the site of chimney.
MCSI sends a big thank you to Shawn for providing Chimney Swift habitat and outreach opportunities in Swan River!
- Amanda Shave
