Another week almost disappears and the swifts are keeping us on our toes. Keep these reports coming – our blog would be nothing without the fun and excellent observations of so many people!
We should begin our summary in Selkirk this week, following a very successful blitz night from Gerald and the excellent Selkirk Birdwatchers.
On June 10th, Ray and Sybil watched the Merchant’s. They had 2 entries, followed by 2 exits, and then 4 roosted for the night. A possible breeding pair/helper scenario might be developing.
On June 14th, Robert and Donna, counted 2 swifts entering the apartments at 267 Main Street
On June 14th, Gerald counted at least 3 swifts over Lower Fort Garry and 2 entered the southeast chimney, although the southwest remains empty.
On June 16th, Nia and Linda counted 16 entries at the large stack at the Mental Health Centre and 2 in the yellow brick.
On June 17th, Robert and Donna counted a drop to 10 entries at the large stack, and 2 in the Infirmary.
On June 17th, Winona saw 2 swifts fly over the Lord Selkirk Hotel, but alas no one dropped into the chimney.
On June 17th, Gerald was back at the Fort and recorded a good entry/exit cycle at the southeast chimney, confirming a breeding attempt is underway again. This time we hope everyone stays on the wall!
Finally, Gerald went to Lockport on June 20th, and counted 2 swifts in one chimney, and one in the other. His comment was interetsing as it matches other observations:
‘The Swifts did not fly around. They came from nowhere and dropped into the chimney.’
More on that later. For now, let’s turn to Wasagaming, and a trip by the ever vigilant Dauphin crew, Ken and Jan:
‘Well, the stars aligned yesterday afternoon, our Sunday drive, Father’s Day and our 18th Anniversary and a possibly new chimney swift chimney needing to be recorded so we got our park pass and headed down to Clear Lake or is it Wasagaming? No one seems to know as both names are battered around. We knew where the main chimney to check was located and drove around to locate a possible second chimney which we also found.
Back to the main chimney, it is located on the National Parks Interpretive Centre and/or museum. The building actually has 5 flues however: the single southern one might be too small being only 2×2 bricks; the pair of east chimneys sees one with a screen over it and it’s pair mate was in use with smoke coming out; this left the pair of westerly chimneys. We sat around on assorted benches and were pleased to see at least 3 swifts flying over the townsite however they were paying no attention to any chimneys so we went for supper.
After supper with an ice cream in a waffle cone in hand, we walked back to the museum and were rewarded with a swift dropping into the southerly chimney of the westerly pair. We watched and saw only 2 swifts flying about and as they were seen heading in the general direction of the possible 2nd site we split our forces and I watched this other chimney for an hour. This chimney is located in the building to the east of White’s Bakery. The building was a sort of hotel/resort but was not open and may have been under renovation. Swifts were seen flying overhead, at times 3, but none paid any attention to the chimney but stayed further north.
Back at the museum 2-3 swifts were seen flying about and it was still thought that 1 was in the chimney (3+1=4). We again observed this chimney for a further 2 more hours and observed some “dipping” flyovers accompanied by much chitter-chatter but no further entries. The weather was closing in and it was starting to rain plus we still had an hours drive to get back home so we left before sunset, wishing we had been camping in the park and had been able to observe till dark.‘
Happy Wedding Anniversary to our really dedicated volunteers, Ken and Jan from MCSI!
Rick in Neepawa is still trying to clock those swifts into chimneys:
‘I was at the flats in Neepawa and had time to check by the hospital for the swifts. There was one flying around the hospital. I believe there is a possibility the other is on nest. I have seen chimney swifts at hospital in Neepawa on 2 occasions so far.’
I think Rick is very close to confirming this site!
Our esteemed former MCSI chair, Ken De Smet, is now retired and enjoying more time with his grandchildren. Fortunately for us, Ken has decided to keep busy ont he swift front. Here is report number one:
‘By the way, watched downtown Stonewall last night (the 18th). Nothing at all happening for half an hour and then 9:35 a pair was spottted & within a minute both were down the normal chimney. Really different than the normal when there is only one pair in town & no major swallow hunting concentrations to be found’.
Last night, the 20th, Ken and Cal were out in Melita:
‘Watched swifts in Melita from 9:30-10. One entry in old school museum. None interested in back of legion hall this year! Cal said there were still 3 seen flying around museum after 1 went down but not sure where they went. May be unaccounted for chimneys in town?’.
Also in Melita, Lynnea observed a bird enter the Manitoba Agriculture cinder block chimney.
In Brandon, Margaret and Millie were out on the 17th and had entries and exits at the Orange Block, another breeding attempt is happening at this regular spot.
David in Morden had this to say:
‘I’d been away from “my” chimney for a couple of weeks so I was eager to try to decipher the current goings on. The total was 5 entries and 3 exits for the session, with the majority (3 entries, 3 exits) occurring during a 31 minute period. There were even 2 birds in the chimney at the same time for 5 minutes, possibly 3 birds IF I assume eggs were always being incubated?
I wish I knew more about the nesting cycle as this seems like a lot of activity for a pair that should still be incubating eggs (based on interpretation of observations 2 weeks ago that this site was in active nest building phase and Google telling me the incubation period is 18-21 days) Does this activity fit the norm? Could it be a pair and a helper? So many questions…’
As ever it was Barb who answered David’s questions:
‘I would say the nest site activity is continuing nicely…a pair is clearly involved with the sequential entries and exits; the exits were fairly close together (~1 minute between events) = the pair is moving together; net 2 in for the night.
With a 9:41 sunset, “daytime” = 8:31-9:11. So the first consecutive entries and exits were in that daytime period. The duration in and between visit intervals are just fine for that time of day and for the roosting hour. All is well! But it still is tough to know about incubation because it’s the worst time to figure out the most difficult stage of nesting. Ah, there is always a reason to go back to the chimney side… ‘
Back to Winnipeg. We had a few reports on the website. Gord and Tami reported a pair of swifts over their yard in East Kildonan at a time we would expect them to dive into a roost. Aaron sent a few reports of swifts including at Lilac@Fleet and over the Earl Grey School.
Leah reported that:
‘By the way – I took my husband to see the Assiniboine School roost last night – we were only there from 2115 to 2215 – counted 66 in for the night (although may have missed a few early on).’
At the zoo, Mitchell continued to watch on the 20th, ad had some nice entry/exits, indicating that our nesting pair are busy! Strangely, Katrina saw 7 swifts but no entrances on the previous roost watch.
On the 19th, Tim and Jon took a stroll around some downtown sites in the morning and eventually found a pair of swifts at the Living Gospel Church near Health Sciences. In the evening, Tim also had a pair at the apartment on Walker in Lord Roberts. Frank and Jacquie were also nearby, and this to report:
‘We had two CHSW at 415 Mulvey this evening. Only two were seen in the area. Unlike St James birds, these came in to the chimney at the expected time and stayed there.’
AND FINALLY! These reports need context, and here is the weekly update from Barb in St Adolphe:
‘Wednesday’s roundup report for St Adolphe started with a reminder that flew in during Tuesday morning’s dog walk. Over a hundred low flying Canada Geese were making their way north in a leisurely fashion. It is the time of year when non-breeders carry on migrating – no rush to get prime nesting spots, but a yield to what is an ingrained movement. In St Adolphe, Chimney Swifts also have been seen to shift in numbers in the third week of June. Extra “helpers” can show up at nest sites and previously unoccupied chimneys become active with newly arrived pairs. It is impossible to tell if these are relocating local swifts or late arriving migrants.
So, I was intrigued to see a tantalizing, possible 3 consecutive entry sequence at the Brodeur Bros chimney late Tuesday morning. Bad luck, or in my case really bad timing, overrode the ability to decipher things. Just as swifts were leaving the nest site, two commercial trucks which had been parked next to me (the folks were working on the municipal electrical box near my infamous blue Comfy Chair) were being backed up and blocked my view. Insert a bad word bubble. Unfortunately, my sight line was broken despite jumping up and hopping over to keep focused on the chimney rim. Who knew calisthenics were part of swift monitoring? Everyone who has sat the vigil knows how seconds can make the difference between observing or missing an entry/exit…..so the stage was set for Wednesday.
After 2 solid hours of monitoring Wednesday morning, with a lot of head snapping and keen peripheral vision workout, no further indication of three swifts at Brodeur’s was seen. I had likely missed an exit at Brodeur’s the previous morning.
However, with a long observation period and 2 sites being watched simultaneously, the data collected were useful to show how variation in nest site use exists. It also shows how the length of a monitoring period can influence the interpretation of activity. Here’s the data set:
Main St and Brodeur Bros.
Main St and Brodeur Bros.
Start time: 11:00 AM
11:22:08 entry Main St
11:59:31 entry Brodeur Bros.
12:01:07 entry Brodeur Bros. (2 in)
12:45:16 entry Main St (2 in)
End time: 1:00 PM
A pair used each chimney. The Main St site was occupied for ~85% of the observation period by at least one swift; the nest site was unattended for >22 min. (Start time to first entry).
The Brodeur Bros. site was occupied for ~50% of the time and for most of that time by a pair; the nest site was unattended for >60 min.
The Main St pair were moving about independently; the Brodeur Bros. pair were seen together in the air before the first entry took place.
Stage of nesting for these two sites = egg laying to early incubation (based also on spring arrival dates)?
Take a moment to look at different 60 minute “observation periods”. If you watched between 11:25 AM and 12:25 PM, you would think that the Main St site was not in use. If you watched between 12:00 and 1:00 PM, you might think that only 1 swift was inside when 2 swifts were actually inside the chimney together.
If a session doesn’t go “as you expected” don’t loose hope that your site is not active but don’t stretch the interpretation too much either. We suggest being flexible about monitoring and making common sense adjustments to your viewing sessions to answer the question of the day. Set an objective when you head out to monitor Chimney Swifts. You’ve heard this before: there is always a reason to go back and watch again!
The next stop on Wed. was over at Club Amical:
The next stop on Wed. was over at Club Amical:
Start time: 1:30 PM
2:06:27 entry NE Club – approached alone
2:11:47 entry SE Club – 1 other swift in close proximity
2:22:39 exit NE Club
2:34:00 exit SE Club
End time: 2:35 PM
NE duration in was ~16 min.; 1 swift approached alone before; = a long, partner exchange at incubation stage?
SE duration in was ~22 min.; partner was in air with the swift that entered; = egg laying to early incubation stage (also based on spring arrival dates)?
To finish the wonderful Wed. circuit, the Church site was checked out:
To finish the wonderful Wed. circuit, the Church site was checked out:
Early evening at the Church:
Start time: 7:30 PM
7:37:21 2 exits
7:44:35 entry
7:52:34 entry
7:57:34 2 exits
End time: 8:30 PM
Clearly, the breeding pair continue to be active partners in the sky and down the chimney. These swifts were the first arriving birds in town this spring. The chimney was unattended for >7 minutes and 7 minutes and >32 minutes. In the evening, both adults like to feed and drink and get ready for roosting – even if they are incubating eggs. So, back to the chimney side it is…
For all of you nest site monitors, keep watching for classic incubation exchanges ~ you will observe an entry then an exit within 30 seconds – 2 minutes. Those partner exchanges are best seen during earlier daytime hours. Good luck monitoring your nest sites!‘
— Tim Poole, Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative Coordinator
Hi Richard and Diana here at the North End of Glenwood Crescent Winnipeg adjacent to Elmwood Park. We see 3 sometimes two chimney Swifts over our backyard and the park most days usually when it is cloudy or before a storm. We are not sure where they nest