Chimney Swift

Chimney Swift. (Chaetura pelagica). , What Is In This Tower , This man-made tower is used by Chimney Swifts, Chaetura pelagica, which are a species of special concern in Ohio and have declined by 72% since 1966. Swifts have shifted towards nesting in chimneys due to habitat loss in breeding areas, as well as competition with non-native bird species. Groups of up to 50,000 will roost overnight in large industrial chimneys. We hope to provide nesting and/or roosting habitat for this struggling species., Life History , Chimney Swifts overwinter in South America and migrate several thousand miles to breed in North America. Birds arrive in Northeast Ohio in late April and begin their migration south in early Fall. Nicknamed, "flying cigars," these aerial insectivores spend most of their life on the wing and catch mosquitos and other insects in flight. This species has been clocked at flying speeds of 150mph, making it one of the fastest birds in the world., What You Can Do , Make your chimney 'swift-friendly' by removing the chimney cap or wire at the end of winter. Also, check there are no birds inside before your first fire of the fall., Do NOT use, or severely limit your use of pesticides in your yard, as these chemicals make their way up the food chain and harm birds that rely on insects for food., Plant species in your yard, that promote native wildlife and are native to our region., Swift Facts , Chimney Swifts spend most of the day in the air and only come to roost at night, except when tending young or nesting., Swifts gather twigs for nests in-flight, breaking them off as they fly past., Nesting pairs typically have several helper birds that assist with raising the young., Chimney swifts often fly in small groups near your house and can be detected by their unique shape and tinkering chatter.