Survey of Summer Season Swifts at Chimneys of Urban Lincoln

By James Ed. Ducey, Lincoln; prepared in 2005

Chimney Swifts are the sleek masters of the urban sky at Lincoln. They flit about and reside in chimneys suitable for a clingy nest, and roost in suitable places. During the city's history, the built environment has always been changed as the urbane setting is redeveloped. Buildings are removed, destroying suitable spots used by these birds.

The survey to check how swifts were affected by urban redevelopment in Lincoln started in late-May 2005. Through the end of August, most of my evenings were spent biking about to find swifts that were entering or leaving a particular chimney in the primary study area. Survey time was nearly always the last hour or two of light at sun set. Getting around easily on a bicycle was essential to find the scattered places used by the cigar birds - with their changing habits through the season - rather than watching a barren chimney. Occasional visits elsewhere in town were done in the latter portion of August, when surveys where mostly during the last portion of decent daylight, after birds gathered at dusk, sometimes around a roost site. Some morning visits were made to roost chimneys.

Primary swift survey area at Lincoln, Nebraska. Larger chimneys represent an August roost site.

Swift Chimneys

There were 92 locations with chimneys known to be used by chimney swifts during 75 survey days. Building details include address based upon the number given on the building, or if not shown, from parcel information at the website of the Lancaster County Assessor's Office, which in some cases also provides the year when a building was constructed. Locations are presented in a general west to east direction, following the street numbering practices of the city. Notes are features or characteristics of interest, and notably, chimney size in bricks square or rectangular. A roost chimney was used by ten or more swifts on a particular occasion.

Locations of building with chimneys used by swifts at Lincoln.

510 D Street - residence - 2x3 bricks 610 L Street - J.L. Case Co., Nebraska Pump & Supply Co. signage - 4x4 bricks on east side of building 650 J Street - was Curtis Towle & Paine Co., now Mill Towne - 6.5x6.5 bricks, industrial-sized; used as a roost in mid-July 725-27 R Street - formerly Larson Furniture - 3.5x3.5 bricks, and tall; to be ripped down for urban redevelopment as a condominium with underground parking 733-737 P Street - formerly Salvation Army Thrift Store - cf. 5x7 bricks; building being renovated; used as a roost in August 747 O Street - Schwarz Paper Company - cf. 3x4 bricks, but covered; company established 1899 335 North 8th Street - Hardy Building - 4x4 bricks; business and apartment building; 1919-20 and 1927 dates for building 800 Q Street - Henkle and Joyce Building - east building: east wall 2x2 bricks, west wall 2.5x2 bricks, also one with a 1 brick diameter vent entry; west building built in 1887: west wall chimney: two 4x?3 bricks, north chimney capped by sheet metal; may be oldest multi-chimney building 803 Q Street - Huber Manufacturing - 3x4 bricks on northwest corner; 1901 date on building 227 North 9th Street - Prime Time Night Club - compares favorably to 4x4.5 bricks, covered; in southwest corner 301 South 9th Street - Cornhusker Printing - 3x3 bricks, with a peeling-side shed atop the place 1001 L Street - business building - 2x4 bricks; on the east side 122 North 11th Street - Continental Commons - 5x6 bricks, use noted later in the season 200 North 11th Street - Misty's Restaurant/Gallup - three chimneys: 2.5x2.5 bricks, 2.5x5 bricks dual entry, 4.5x6 bricks dual chamber 303 South 11th Street - Night Before Lounge - 2x2.5 bricks 315 South 11th Street - Electric Shaver & Appliance Service - 2x2 bricks; nice view from the parking garage to the east, on the upper levels 317 South 11th Street - Libations/The Grand Room - two 2.5x2.5 bricks chimneys 404-08-10 South 11th Street - Nebraska Right to Life, The Pub - 3x4 bricks; back side alley view 432 South 11th Street - former appliance shop - one 2x2.5 bricks to the west, and one 4.5x4.5 bricks chimney covered with encroaching vine growth that could eventually cover the opening 1220 Washington Street - residence - smaller chimney, house over 100 years old according to residents 1222 P Street - Swanson Russell Associates - 3x3.5 bricks - a tall white chimney - and 3x9 bricks towards the building front; 1915 date on building 1226 P Street - WCs pub - 4.5x6 at the back alley; 1915 date on building 1230 P Street - former boot & shoe repair - 4.5x6.5 bricks; 1912 date on building 301 South 12th Street - Merrill Lynch - 6x6 bricks squat in back alley 1314 O Street - Commercial Federal Plaza - 5x5 bricks in northwest corner, hardly visible from adjacent parking garage 1332-36 P Street - H.E. Wood building - 4x3.5 bricks; 1918 date on building 1335 L Street - League of Nebraska Municipalities - 3x3 bricks 411 South 13th Street - 411 Building - 4.5x4.5 bricks; used as a roost in early August 126 North 14th Street - Homer's Music and Gifts - two 2x2.5 bricks 136 North 14th Street - The Zoo Bar - 2x2 bricks with circular opening 1400 O Street - alley business and residences - 4x4.5 bricks; on the alley side of northeast corner at 14th and O street; used as a roost in August 144 North 14th Street - The Post and Nickel - formerly three buildings; 2x2 bricks, 3x2.5 bricks, 3.5x3.5 bricks towards the rear of north building 1443 G Street - residence - 2.5x3.5 bricks 210 South 14th Street - former Runza restaurant - cf. 3x3 bricks, but covered; mural wall and chimney with King Kong on one side, a wolf on another 821 South 15th Street - apartment house - two 3x2.5 brick chimneys 827 South 15th Street - apartment house - 3x3 bricks 835-847 South 15th Street - Nory Anna apartment house - 3x3 and 4x4 bricks 126 North 16th Street - W.C. Shinn building - 2x3 bricks on north wall, 3x3.5 bricks on south wall; 1908 building date 1608 O Street - Economy and Performance Auto Services - 4.5 x 7.5 bricks size near the utility line pole 1622 O Street - empty business - 3x3.5 bricks 1622-40 O Street - Lord building - 4x5.5 bricks 1625 P Street - JRW Sales - tallish 3x3 bricks square 226 South 16th Street - empty business building - tallish 2.5x2.5 bricks 300 South 16th Street - Blackstone apartment house - 4x4 bricks with broken and missing portions at the top 134 South 17th Street - apartment house - 2.5x2.5 bricks 1700 N Street - Pauline apartment house - smaller sized, covered; 1890 date on building 1701 Q Street - League of Human Dignity/Mobility Options - 3.5x4 bricks 1703 O Street - B B & R Pawn - 4.5x4.5 bricks, large size 1717 O Street chimney abuts on the east-side 1717 O Street - Poor Boy Pottery - 4.5x4.5 bricks with overlay; readily seen from the south 1729 M Street - Algonquin apartment - not readily visible from street level, center of roof area 1742 O Street - Bigler Motors - 2.5x3 bricks, with a short height

145 North 18th Street - empty house - 2x4 bricks; a dilapidated and city-condemned former residence 1820 P Street - Cathouse Adoption Center - 3.5x3.5 bricks, two-story 509 South 18th Street - Bel-Air Apartment - 2.5x2.5 bricks; twin to Angelo apartment building with a similar chimney 805 South 18th Street - Minuet Apartment - 3x3 bricks, constricted; twin to the Sonata to the south, where the chimney is covered with a vent 1911 R Street - Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach - 2.5x3 bricks, with a constricted entry 1944 L Street - residence - heavily enclosed by free-growth trees 1944 O Street - C. R. I. & P. railroad terminal, now Union Bank and Trust - 3x3 bricks, a former train station with a fine, and one of the best-designs on a chimney in the neighborhood 2008 R Street - empty house - 2x2 bricks; at JAVA project corridor, willing seller house to be removed according to project officials 2020 O Street - originally a hotel, Ben's Auto Parts store for several decades - ten: 2 2x2 bricks, 3 2x2.5 bricks, 2 2x4 bricks, 1 2x4.5 bricks, 4x4 bricks covered and 4x5.5 bricks; larger chimneys were roosts in latter August; built 1890 as a hotel for workers; one of oldest multi-chimney buildings 2044 R Street - empty house - 2x2 bricks; to be removed for JAVA project 2045 O Street - Road & Track automotive repair shop - 2.5x2.5 bricks with constricted opening; adjacent to JAVA project 2101 N Street - Williamson Honda - used cars - 3.5x3.5 bricks, with constricted, 1 brick entry; to be removed for JAVA project 2109 O Street - business and upstairs apartments - 2x2.5 bricks; to be removed for JAVA project; brick building with business on ground floor, apartments on second floor 2127 O Street - business building - 2x2.5 bricks; to be removed for JAVA project 2145 Q Street - empty house - 2x2 bricks; to be removed for JAVA project 125 North 22nd Street - empty house - 2x2 bricks; to be removed for JAVA project 210 North 22nd Street - residence - 2x2 bricks; a trio of chimneys occur with the two adjacent houses 2201 O Street - St. Louise Gift & Thrift Store, Catholic Social Services - 3.5x3.5 bricks with a constricted 1.5 brick entry opening 2208 O Street - Mums Liquor, Oasis Barber Shop - cf. 2-3 bricks, but with a bulging overcoat of masonry 2216 O Street - Waldron Machine and Welding - 3.5x3.5 bricks, a bit more than one story height 2229 J Street - Lincoln High School - 8.5x8.5 bricks two-story base, with multi-cornered upper portion, a completely distinct design topped with 4 lightning rods, at south end of buildings; high school established 1871 422 North 22nd Street - residence - 2x2 bricks; dilapidated house adjacent to Trago park and JAVA redevelopment corridor 2300 O Street - multi-cultural community building - a large 4.5 x 4.5 brick chimney for the tile-roofed place 2350 O Street - Rixstine award shop - 3.5x3.5 bricks, more than two-story height, white-painted 2414 N Street - Aamco Transmission - 3x3 bricks size with constricted opening 2419 Q Street - residence - cf. 2 to 2.5 bricks square; smallish and recovered 2425 O Street - Midwest Sound and Lighting - cf 2.5x2.5 bricks covered at west wall; 4.5x4.5 brick size in southeast corner 2429 O Street - Ace Rent-to-Own - 2.5x2.5 bricks size with constricted entry and slightly broken about the top 255 North 25th Street - apartment building - 3x3 bricks on west side of three-story brick apartment 435 North 25th Street - multi-dweller house - 5x5 bricks in a classic, oldtime house now subdivided 545 North 25th Street - multi-dweller house - two 2x2.5 bricks on another neighborhood classic 2980 Holdrege Street - Family of Life Pentecostal Church - squat 5x5 bricks used, with a taller 2x2.5 bricks chimney near on another roofline 3100 Plymouth Avenue - Sheridan Elementary School - four-story height, with 8 sides, each ca. 3-3.5 bricks, topped with 4 lightning rods; the school opened in 1926; the largest number of swifts for an August roost site in the city 616 South 36th Street - Saint Theresa School - two 5x5 bricks chimneys near the northeast corner; more than 50 swifts used the north chimney as a roost in mid-August 2601 North 48th Street - former city hall, University Place Galleries - cf. 4x4 bricks; 1914 date on building 4015 South 49th Street office - College View Seventh-day Adventist Church - a squat 7x7 bricks with an easy view from Prescott Street, east of 48th Street 4341 North 61st Street - Schmidt Brothers 1916/Salvage Warehouses - 3x4 bricks; a second chimney is covered 6120 Morrill Avenue - Saint Patrick's church hall - 4x4 bricks, 1908 date on building; used as a roost in latter August 6136 Havelock Avenue - Havelock Gift, now Cosmic Cow - Gift Gallery, Creative Fabrics - cf. 3x3 bricks, covered 1645 North Cotner Boulevard - Bethany Christian Church - cf. 5x5 bricks, 3-plus stories height, topped with a lightning rod, and at the alley with nearby power lines; an important primary roost in August 6635 Fairfax Avenue - former public school, now Cotner Center Condominiums - two abutting 4.5x4.5 bricks with ornate tops, with two lightning rods, four story height; a lesser roost in latter August

This list does not include every swift chimney in the area. Additional survey effort could identify other swift chimney habitat, and provide other occurrence and distribution details to conserve the local breeding population.

Chimney Loss

About ten percent of the noted chimneys will be destroyed. An essential interest in the survey was to determine the loss of chimneys due to urban redevelopment, especially some activities of the Joint Antelope Valley Authority, sponsored by the City of Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Lower Platte South NRD. The stated purposes of the $240 million project are flood control, transportation improvements and community enhancements. It includes a new, exposed channel ditch for Antelope Creek.

North JAVA Project area.	South JAVA project area.
East Downtown area of Lincoln, showing surface features and chimneys used by Chimney Swifts. Filled boxes mark chimneys with noted swift use, and an open box indicates other chimneys. Buildings denoted in the JAVA corridor are to be torn down to make way for urban redevelopment. Figures by J.E. Ducey.

The JAVA project will cause a dramatic decline in swift housing when at least seven known swift chimneys will be removed within the corridor from R Street to south of O street:

• 2008 R Street, residence - next to the mapped project corridor but a willing seller means removal, according to the project manager for the city of Lincoln;
• 2040 R Street, residence
• 2145 Q Street, residence
• 2109 O Street, business
• 2127 O Street, business
• 2101 N Street, business
• 125 North 22nd Street, residence

Other houses in the project corridor were torn down in the first months of 2005. There are an estimated 25 houses that would have been torn down in the three square-blocks of R Street to O Street, between 21st and 22nd streets (Figure 2). The city website said at least 48 residences would be removed, plus additional commercial buildings. The defunct Northeast Radial, another city project some years ago, replaced old homes with row-house construction, further reducing the extent of suitable swift chimneys in this portion of town.

Aged and deteriorating buildings can also be readily removed for construction of the new buildings and settings, things depicted in the well-prepared web-presentations for the JAVA corridor.

This is the first chimney where a pair of chimney swifts were noted in latter April, 2007. It is at 1145 L Street.

An example, perhaps, is 2020 O Street. Apparently built in 1890, it was a hotel for workers on the nearby railroad. It was a mattress factory and Ben's Auto Parts for decades. Most recently there was an unsuccessful dollar store. There is now a for sale or rent sign in the front window of a most unique roofline with eight chimneys, fine for generations of chimney swifts (Figure 3). The sagging brick walls of this big place would be easier removed than renovated, according to the current owner, anticipating redevelopment.

A well-worn house in disrepair on north 22nd Street - across from an impending greenway - could easily be torn down for something new, perhaps a new residence according to planning suggestions.

A condemned house on north 18th street is across the street to the block parcel that was being considered as a site for a multi-million dollar hotel. Among the old places in the Haymarket, a towering chimney will tumble when removed when the site is transformed into a pricey condominium.

Along the main streets of Lincoln, and among the urbane scene and at its neighborhoods, Chimney Swifts have suffered from destruction of chimneys. The trend of redevelopment projects causes an ongoing loss of those exquisite brick places that are a reliable home or roost for Nebraska bugeaters that are forced to adapt to the continual decline in roosting and nesting habitat.

Spring 2007 Update

Additional information has been gathered on the swifts about downtown Lincoln. Buildings are gone from the area...

Chimneys which indicate the changes to this habitat used by swifts in urban Lincoln (Photographs © 2007 J.E. Ducey).
North Haymarket chimney destoyed for condominium project.	House removed on 100 block of north 18th street, torn down for area redevelopment.
House moved to another location and renovated for continuing use.	O Street business buildings removed for the JAVA project.

Two large size roost chimneys on the block for the so-called Catalyst One project, with a large scale, multi-million construction project to include a hotel and parking garage. These two chimneys have been present since 1918, at the original name, H.E. Woods building.

Plans announced on April 26, 2005 indicate the remainder of the buildings presently on the city block will be removed for new high-rise construction. This will occur in the next few years. A Phase Two is hoped for, which will remove additional buildings from the area.

A date is not available on when the two illustrated chimneys will be removed from the chimney-scape of urban Lincoln. The former movie theatre, visible in the background, has already been removed, and is now a dirt lot.

Swift use was noted in the west chimney at dusk on April 26th. Other swifts occur at additional chimneys in the immediate vicinity, with about 15 noted during the evening survey.