Another week of interesting swift reports has arrived in our in-trays. This week we have another new site, this time in St Francois Xavier, reports demonstrating that our swift parents are now 100% focused on feeding non-brooded chicks, and some mixed news from St Adolphe.
First to St Francois Xavier though, and Mike and Michele:
‘Great news to report from St Francois Xavier!! We can now positively confirm that chimney swifts were seen entering a second chimney, not too far from the church. We’ve always had an eye on a couple of potential chimneys but never spent enough time at that location to see if they were actually being visited.
Wed night, we decided to split up since I was going to be late arriving at the church anyway (just like our wedding day…lol) By the time I arrived, Mike had already witnessed 2 entries at the new location and he couldn’t wait to tell me about it. A bit later on I saw a total of 5 swifts in the air, harassing a crow.’
Congratulations both!
Frank, Rhonda, Jacquie, Lewis and Lynnea hit the town in Carman for an evening to try work out what is happening. Frank reported on last Wednesdays shenanigans:
‘Lynnea, Lewis, Jacquie and I drove out to Carman last night, and we met up with Rhonda at the Memorial Hall. We devised a clever plan to monitor five sites with a designated local scout (Rhonda).
Lewis took the Memorial Hall where he had four entries and one exit.
Jacquie took the residence down the street and had two entries, no exits.
Both locations saw fly-bys of swifts, up to three near the Hall and up to 7 over the residence.
The rest of us took up positions to the south:
- Lynnea took the relocated tower at the Elementary School—no entries/exits.
- I checked the two residences across from the School: 163 2nd St SW with two chimneys (one capped, the other possibly available) and 151 2nd St SW (brick chimney with insert). No entries or exits.
- Rhonda monitored the general area near the intersection of 2nd St SW and 4th Ave SW where several fly-bys of up about six CHSW were noted. Lynnea and I had the occasional fly-by by up to 4 CHSW. Rhonda did a reconnaissance trip to try to find alternative destinations for the “missing” birds.
Unfortunately, we didn’t link up for a post-viewing debriefing (sorry Rhonda!). Once again, we couldn’t account for all the CHSW seen/heard.
No Timmies products were consumed, either…’
So we are at least two swifts short in Carman. There are certainly more sites to find. And not even a rewarding Timmies, how did Frank survive?
Ken and Jan sent this report in from the Riding Mountain region:
‘We found ourselves passing through Clear Lake (Wasagaming) this evening (Wednesday) so we stopped at the museum to watch for swifts for about an hour. We saw one entry into the northern chimney of the two western ones and 2 minutes later a swift left. We waited hoping for a repeat performance but that was all, didn’t even see them flying overhead, we left just past an hour observation time.
Later we got to Dauphin and went straight to the roost to watch the roosting hour during which time we saw 11 swifts go down that chimney.’
Gerald also sent the latest summaries from the Selkirk Birdwatchers Club. Here is our summary:
- Gerald recorded an exit followed by an entry in one chimney, and three entries in the other chimney at the St Andrews Lock and Dam Maintenance Compound in Lockport on July 15;
- Winona counted 3 entries and an exit at the Merchants in Selkirk on July 16;
- Winona counted 4 entries at the Merchants in Selkirk on July 17;
- Linda and Nia counted 17 entrances in the large stack at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre on July 17;
- Linda and Nia counted 2 entrances and 2 exits in the yellow bricj chimney at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre on July 17;
- Gerald recorded one entrance in the southwest chimney, but no activity in the southeast chimney at Lower Fort Garry on July 18, with 6 swifts counted in the air.
Blair became the latest victim of Tim’s overenthusiastic attempt to find a new site, this time seeing nothing and hearing nothing at St Boniface Hospital. Sorry Blair!
And the Tim’s curse did not stop there even. This time it was Leah who was left scratching her head in Fort Rouge:
‘So, unfortunately, no exits/entries at 626 Wardlaw. A spectacular looking chimney – roost size? – but although there were a number of pairs of birds that flew over the chimney, no dips or near misses. More activity to the south and east – from the sounds of it, and after taking a walk after I finished, possibly 549 Gertrude (chimney at the church)? Is that chimney active this year?’
Kelsey confirmed that swifts remain busy at the zoo. All our fingers and toes are crossed on this one!
Garry sent this from East Kildonan:
‘Feeding activity has really picked up at 712 Watt Street. Timing of visits indicates feeding non-brooded young. Things are progressing nicely!’
And for the purists, here is the swift pattern he refers to:
‘11:06 – entry one swift
11:06 – exit one swift (~ 15 seconds between entry and exit)
11:16 – exit one swift (appears both adults now out of chimney at the same time)
11:30 – entry 2 swifts (both adults returned to chimney together)
11:31 – exit one swift
11:47 – entry one swift
11:47 – exit one swift (~ 15 seconds between entry and exit)
12:04 – entry one swift
12:04 – exit one swift (~ 15 seconds between entry and exit):06 – entry one swift
Rudolf also reported 7 swifts in the area around Kildonan Drive and the Bergen Cut-off.
Barbara and Phil continue there Osborne endeavours, with breeding activity at the Royal Oak on River and the apartment on Clarke. Looking forward to Wednesday in this area. They also confirmed swifts using the chimney during the day on Sunday at Augustine United Church.
On Sunday evening it was the turn of Margaret and Millie to send an excellent update from Brandon, looking good for non-brooded feeding of swifts in the chimney. This chimney is amazingly consistent!
