Blitz results, record-breaking numbers in St Adolphe, etc!
It’s time for the weekly monitoring recap, including results from our blitz on August 7 – thanks to everyone who was able to monitor on this day, or another day this week! Friendly reminder to send along any monitoring sheets (it’s never too late to send in your reports, even if they are from a few months ago).
This time of year can be quite confusing when it comes to interpreting what is going on chimney-side, given the mix of new fledglings and the possibility of newly-arrived adult migrants. While it’s often difficult to know with certainty what is happening, it’s fun to speculate and give our best guesses! Keep reading for the latest updates.
St Adolphe
On August 2, Barb spent 70 minutes monitoring the Church during the daytime, but did not see a single swift. In fact, she did not see a single aerial insectivore!
On August 7 (blitz day), Barb and Rob monitored from 8:00pm to 10:30pm, which included 30 minutes of “daytime” monitoring and 60 minutes of “roost hour” monitoring. During the “daytime” portion, they did see one or two swifts flying low in the sky, but did not see any entries or exits. Around sunset, Rob saw a group of 8-9 swifts in the sky. At 9:02pm, there was 1 “seemingly cautious” entry. 10 minutes later, 2 more swifts entered. Barb described these entries as : “a meteoric drop which was markedly different in style to the first swift roosting for the night”. That’s when things really picked up… Between 9:15pm and 9:20pm, there were 18 more entries! That’s a total of 21 swifts roosting in the chimney.
Barb pointed out the significance of this observation: “Total entries = 21! That number is a seasonal high for ’24 and a new record for max in the Church – the previous max in was 19 roosting on Aug 17-18, 2009. So the numbers at the Church likely reflect Church fledglings/parents, failed breeding adults from ST A and some From Aways…maybe more will arrive over the next couple of weeks as the swifts get pointed south…”
Brandon
The search for swifts in Brandon has proven very difficult this year. Despite their big efforts, the monitoring team has not been able to find out where the swifts (which are seen intermittently) are roosting. Louanne did let me know about an eBird report by Carson of 3 swifts at the Riverbank Discovery Centre on August 8 at 8:45am.
Portage la Prairie
Gordon watched Olina Jewels and the MTS building on August 7 (blitz day) from 8:35pm-9:30pm, but did not see any swifts.
Southport
Jana watched the Mynarski House on August 7 (blitz day) from 8:11pm-9:20pm and once again saw a lot of activity. She saw 1 entry at 8:14pm, 1 entry at 8:19pm, 1 exit at 8:21pm, 1 entry at 8:33pm, 1 exit at 8:40pm, 1 entry at 8:44pm, 1 entry at 8:57pm, 1 exit at 9:02pm, 1 entry at 9:05pm, 1 exit at 9:06pm, 1 entry at 9:08pm, and 1 entry at 9:17pm. That’s 4 swifts roosting in the chimney.
Selkirk Mental Health Centre
On August 3, Patti and Dennis did a roost hour watch of T02, from 8:30-9:39pm. They saw 1 entry at 8:42pm, 1 exit at 8:45pm, 1 entry at 8:53pm, 1 exit at 8:55pm, 1 entry at 8:59pm, 1 exit at 9:00pm, 1 entry at 9:02pm, 1 exit at 9:03pm, 1 entry at 9:19pm, 1 exit at 9:21pm, 1 entry at 9:28pm, 2 entries at 9:32pm, and 1 entry at 9:34pm. That’s 4 swifts roosting in the chimney which could indicate fledglings.
On August 6, Tim organized another mini roosting hour blitz of the SMHC sites to try and get more information on the current swift situation. The results were interesting. In Tim’s words, it was “utter swift chaos”.
Fred and Nettie watched T01 from 7:45pm-9:30pm, and saw 1 possible exit at 8:05pm, and 2 entries (9:06pm and 9:18pm). That’s 2 swifts roosting in T01.
Patti and Dennis watched T02 from 8:24pm-9:31pm and saw 1 entry at 8:31pm, 1 entry at 8:32pm, 1 exit at 8:33pm, 1 exit at 8:34pm, 1 entry at 8:48pm, 1 exit at 8:51pm, 1 entry at 9:03pm, and 2 entries at 9:14pm. That’s 3 swifts roosting in T02.
Linda and Nia watched the Yellow Brick chimney and T04 from 8:05pm-9:31pm. At the Yellow Brick chimney, they saw 1 entry/exit around 8:14pm, 2 entries at 8:27pm, 1 exit at 8:28pm, 1 entry/exit around 8:43pm, 1 entry at 8:58pm, 2 entries at 9:04pm, 1 entry/exit at 9:09pm, 1 entry/exit around 9:14pm, 1 entry/exit around 9:17pm, 1 entry at 9:22pm. That’s 5 swifts roosting in the Yellow Brick chimney.
At T04 (which we think fledged almost two weeks ago), they saw 1 entry at 8:07pm, 1 exit at 8:12pm, 1 entry at 8:22pm, 1 exit at 8:24pm, 1 exit at 8:26pm, 1 entry at 8:35pm, 1 entry at 8:42pm, 2 entries at 8:45pm, 1 exit at 8:49pm, 1 exit at 8:52pm, 1 entry at 8:58pm, 1 exit at 8:59pm, 1 entry at 9:05pm, 1 entry at 9:08pm. That’s 4 swifts roosting in T04.
Tim watched the Infirmary chimney and T03 from 8:00pm-9:29pm. At the Infirmary chimney (which we think also fledged almost two weeks ago), there was a lot of activity – 20 entries and 15 exits! Here’s the breakdown: 1 entry/exit around 8:09pm, 2 entries at 8:11pm, 2 exits at 8:12pm, 2 entries at 8:22pm, 2 exits at 8:23pm, 1 entry/exit at 8:28pm, 1 entry/exit around 8:32pm, 1 entry/exit around 8:39pm, 1 entry/exit around 8:49pm, 1 entry at 8:51pm, 1 exit at 8:57pm, 2 entries around 8:58pm, 2 entries at 9:07pm, 2 exits at 9:10pm, 1 entry/exit around 9:11pm, 1 entry/exit around 9:12pm, 1 entry/exit at 9:15pm, 2 entries around 9:17pm, and 1 entry at 9:24pm. Tim mentions that he may have missed an exit at the end because it was quite dark at this point, but there were 4 or 5 swifts roosting in the Infirmary.
At T03, Tim saw 1 entry/exit around 8:11pm, 1 entry/exit around 8:14pm, 1 entry at 8:24pm, 1 exit at 8:29pm, 1 entry at 8:33pm, 1 exit at 8:35pm, and 2 entries at 9:05pm. That’s 2 swifts roosting in T03. The entry/exits early on in the evening seem to indicate that feeding is still happening. If this is the case, fledging should happen very soon!
Tim suspects that the variation in levels of activity and roosting numbers is a combination of the resident adults and fledglings, and early migration.
Lockport
Gerald watched the chimneys at the St Andrews Lock and Dam on August 3 from 8:45pm-9:40pm, with interesting results. So far this year, the swifts have been observed using the south chimney flue. This time, he did not see any entries/exits at the south chimney flue, but he did see 2 entries (9:02pm and 9:09pm) into the north chimney flue! As Gerald pointed out, it may be that the swifts have switched to using the north flue, or that the swifts that were there previously have departed and the swifts that were using the north flue are migrants.
Lower Fort Garry
Gerald monitored at Lower Fort Garry on August 6 from 8:22-9:30pm. At the Men’s House, he saw 1 entry/exit around 8:28pm, 1 entry/exit around 8:30pm, 1 entry/exit around 8:39pm, 1 entry/exit around 8:50pm, 1 entry at 8:56pm, 1 entry/exit around 9:01pm, 1 exit at 9:02pm, 1 entry/exit around 9:09pm, 1 entry at 9:11pm, and 1 entry at 9:15pm. That’s 2 swifts roosting in the chimney.
At the Fur Loft, he saw 1 exit 8:28pm, 1 entry/exit at 8:35pm, 1 entry at 8:40pm, 1 entry/exit at 8:43pm, 1 entry/exit at 8:59pm, 1 entry at 9:01pm, 1 entry/exit at 9:11pm. 1 exit at 9:12pm, 1 entry at 9:20pm and 1 entry at 9:21pm. That’s 3 swifts roosting in the chimney.
Darlingford
Frank watched the Darlingford School Heritage Museum on August 2 from 9:45am-12:10pm. He saw 1 exit at 10:25am, 1 entry at 11:25am, 1 exit at 11:29am, 1 exit at 11:40am, 1 entry at 11:43am, 1 entry at 12:02pm, and 1 exit at 12:03pm. Seems like there is still feeding activity at this site.
Winnipeg
John watched the CMU chimney on August 3 from 3:30pm-5:00pm. He saw 1 entry at 3:31pm, 1 entry at 3:32pm, 1 exit at 3:33pm, 1 exit at 3:34pm, 1 entry at 3:48pm, 1 exit at 3:51pm, 1 entry at 3:54pm, 1 exit at 3:55pm, 1 entry at 4:18pm, 1 exit at 4:20pm, 1 exit at 4:38pm, 1 entry at 4:43pm, and 1 exit at 4:44pm. This activity could indicate that feeding is still going on at this site.
Last week, Nicole and Cain were out for a walk in Wolseley and saw 1 swift enter the chimney at a private residence on Ruby St at 9:00pm, followed by an exit at 9:05pm.
Frank watched the McBeth House on August 7 (blitz day) from 7:10pm-9:30pm. This site has 3 chimneys, one of which is a priority site. While he did not see any swifts use the chimney that is a priority site (the central one), he did see activity at the east chimney – 1 exit at 7:46pm, 1 entry/exit around 7:59pm, 1 exit at 8:25pm, 1 entry at 8:31pm, and 1 entry at 9:03pm (2 swifts roosting in the chimney). He did mention that at 8:24pm, there was a swift that passed very low over the building which could have been a fast exit from the middle chimney, but he couldn’t tell for sure.
On August 7 (blitz day), Rudolf was stationed at the Northdale Shopping Centre from 8:48pm to 9:25pm. At the Curtis Hotel, he saw 1 entry at 9:05pm and 1 entry at 9:16pm. He did not see any activity at 1010 Brazier.
Breanne has been doing weekly roosting hour watches of the chimney at the Maryland Foodfare. On June 13, she monitored from 8:27pm-10:07pm and saw 1 exit at 8:47pm, 1 entry at 8:54pm, 1 exit 9:04pm, 1 entry at 9:13pm, 1 exit at 9:23pm, 1 entry at 9:40pm, and 1 entry at 9:48pm (2 swifts roosting in chimney). On June 24, she monitored from 8:40pm-10:10pm and saw 1 entry 9:05pm and 1 entry 9:46pm (2 swifts roosting in chimney). On July 3, she monitored from 8:40pm-10:16pm and saw 1 entry at 8:48pm, 1 exit at 8:51pm, and 1 entry at 9:51pm (1 swift roosting in chimney). On July 12, she monitored from 8:30pm-10:10pm and saw 1 entry/exit around 8:47pm, and 1 entry 9:26pm (1 swift roosting in chimney). On July 17, she monitored from 8:30pm-10:00pm and saw 1 entry at 9:48pm and 1 entry at 9:52pm (2 swifts roosting in chimney). On July 24, she monitored from 8:20pm-9:50pm and saw 1 entry at 9:36pm and 1 entry at 9:41pm (2 swifts roosting in chimney). On July 31, she monitored from 8:12pm-9:42pm and saw 2 entries at 9:27pm (2 swifts roosting in chimney). On August 7 (blitz day), she monitored from 8:00pm-9:30pm and saw 1 entry 9:21pm and 1 entry 9:25pm (2 swifts roosting in chimney). It’s hard to say for sure, but judging by the lack of entries/exits prior to roosting, I wonder if there was a nest failure sometime in June but the swifts continued to use the chimney to roost.
Updated Priority Site List (August 9):
| 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 | |
| Capped | ||||
| 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) middle chimney |
Thanks!
-Marissa
