Chimney Swifts using nest sites in St. Adolphe have been monitored annually since 2007. To assess breeding success, behaviour observations + physical evidence seen in cleanout traps were used for the Brodeur Bros./Daycare and Main St. sites; only behaviour observations were available for the Club Amical, Church, and 2019-31 sites. Merci et thank you to our swift-friendly “landlords” – S. and A. Leclerc, owners of site 2019-31, Paroisse St. Adolphe, the RM of Ritchot, and the staff of the St Adolphe Child Care Centre – for supporting the MCSI Research Program and St Adolphe’s Chimney Swifts!
The Covid-19 pandemic was being managed with public health regulations and advisories. Beyond relocating to more isolated viewing locations (away from sidewalks), and reducing the frequency of monitoring private homes, the St Adolphe Chimney Swift Research Program rolled out as usual in May and continued through to the departure of the swifts in August.
In 2020, breeding pairs of Chimney Swifts were established at 5 of the 6 known nest sites in St. Adolphe (~80% site occupancy). Of the 5 nesting attempts, only the adults at the Church successfully fledged young (20% success). The clutch size, or total number of eggs laid, was unknown but 2 juveniles fledged from the Church on August 2nd -3rd.
Heat and winds dominated the breeding season in 2020. However, high feeding rates were seen again compared to very low feeding rates seen in the previous couple of years. Some heavy rain events punctuated the season and one nest failure was associated with a storm. There were also unexplained reasons for nest failures.
An unusual event took place in late July. Adults from several sites left St Adolphe before fledging took place at the Church. The resident flock of unsuccessful breeders usually stays in town until the time of first fledging at some site. Also, the breeding pair from the Church had very unusual attendance at the site for a few days post-fledging. We have much more to learn about the dynamics of breeding Chimney Swifts!
A summary of the nesting attempt outcomes for 2020 is tabled below. These results are based on 132 hours of observations.
| SITE | NESTING ATTEMPT? | OUTCOME OF NESTING ATTEMPT |
| SE CLUB AMICAL | YES | FAILED: AT FEEDING NON-BROODED YOUNG STAGE (JUVENILES >7 DAYS OLD); third week of July. |
| NE CLUB AMICAL | YES | FAILED: AT FEEDING NON-BROODED YOUNG STAGE (JUVENILES >7 DAYS OLD); fourth week of July. |
| BRODEUR BROS./ St Adolphe Child Care Centre | YES | FAILED: AT FEEDING NON-BROODED YOUNG STAGE (JUVENILES >7 DAYS OLD); mid-July. |
| CHURCH | YES | SUCCESSFUL: FLEDGED 2 (TWO) JUVENILES; first week of August. |
| MAIN ST. | YES | FAILED: AT UNDETERMINED POST-HATCHING STAGE; FEEDING BROODED OR NON-BROODED YOUNG COULD NOT BE ESTABLISHED;third week of July. |
| 2019-31 | NO Unoccupied daytime |
(Prepared by B. E. Stewart, Sila Consultants, Oct. 21, 2020; sila.stewart@gmail.com)
Note: this nest outcome summary is available as a pdf file at https://www.mbchimneyswift.com/Documents/stadolphe_2020.pdf
