A Season's Survey of Chimney Swifts at an Urban Scene

Evening swifts on 400 block of South 11th Street.

By James Ed. Ducey

Chimney Swifts are a regular and common resident about urban Lincoln, Nebraska. Arriving as groups in mid-April, their twittering is prevalent in the daily sky, with resident birds eventually dispersing to suitable chimney places to nest.

Their distribution and occurrence makes an interesting foray into another season's view of a particular species, so reliant on building architecture for survival. Numerous surveys were done were done via bicycle in 2007, through mid-October when the last swift of the season was noted in silent flight among the ethereal skies at Carriage Park.

Swift Arrival

The first Chimney Swifts seen were 18 in the evening above the Haymarket district on 17 April. Chimney use was first noted on 23 April with a couple birds into the two chimneys at Ben's Auto at 20th and O Streets, a known haven from 2005 surveys.

Larger counts continued for several days in central downtown. The 26 April count at Downtown Lincoln indicated 18 at 14th and O street; one in west chimney in southeast corner of Post and Nickel business building; one in west chimney at H.E. Wood building (1332-36 P Street), one at the McKenzie Building at northeast corner of 14th and P Streets; one out 130 South 13th Street. There were also 18 at the Haymarket.

Chimney Habitats

Eventually the swift bunches dispersed, as pairs used smaller local chimneys to build a fragile, stick nest to rear young. The only specifics for May-July, are:

27 Apr: two into 1107 L Street.

28 Apr: two in northwest corner of N Street Express Lube at 17th street.

5 May: one in Spaghetti Works on North 12th Street, five in and two out WCs at 1226 P Street, and one in 1317 L Street, the Cornhusker Apartment House.

On 27 May, a swift was seen snagging twiglets from a dead tree branches at Cushman Woods, on the east edge of city campus.

Details of central Lincoln chimneys during the swift breeding season were gathered in 2005.

Post-Breeding August

The first group of swifts was noted in early August.

6 Aug - Downtown Lincoln: 85, 432 South 11th Street, back alley view of 4.5x4.5 chimney of three stories.

11 Aug - Hawley District: 215, 2425 O Street chimney of 4.5 x 4.5 bricks; first at 7:45, done by 9 p.m.

28 Aug - Downtown Lincoln: 45, alley view of 432 South 11th Street.

Swifts were prevalent during the month, and into September.

Migratory Swift Flocks

In mid-September, a large flock on the south side was the impetus for the regular schedule of evening surveys. Prominent chimneys with previous known use in the Haymarket, downtown Lincoln and east downtown were visited, each every few days, with intermittent outings to a few other places.

10 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 260, quickly into the southwest corner chimney at 411 South 13th Street (4.5x4.5 bricks of three stories).

11 Sep - East Downtown Lincoln: 89, former Bens Auto Parts building at 2020 O Street; heard 7:25, some about at 7:40, swarming at 7:55, done by 8:10 p.m.

12 Sep - Haymarket: 107, Schwarz Paper Company, 747 O Street.

13 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 95, 1400 0 Street building.

14 Sep - Hawley District: 101, Midwest Sound, 2425 O Street; once in a while one doesn't make it in so tries again.

15 Sep - Near South Neighborhood: 25, one into Lincoln High Chimney; others generally about with larger roost not apparent.

16 Sep - Everett Neighborhood at 12th and C Streets: 35 about, but did not use large 8-sided chimney at Everett Elementary school. The swifts went eastward to an unknown roost.

17 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 532, 411 Building; first entry at 7:40 with two, then ca. 130, then further bunches of the swifts in their grand swirl, flying about the chimney. This is the greatest single site count known, considering nearly 300 records for Lancaster County.

18 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 475, 411 Building, done by 7:40; a similar number used this chimney the following night.

20 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 22, 15 at 1226 P Street (6x4.5 bricks); 2 at 1230 P Street (6.5x4.5); 4 at Spaghetti Works, 228 North 12th Street.

21 Sep - Haymarket: 197, Mill Towne, 650 J Street, 6.5x6.5 bricks of five stories.

Round chimney at Waterpark Condos.

22 Sep - Waterpark Condominiums at Antelope Park: 85, a big round chimney at 2901 J street; birds in and out, with some going elsewhere towards the south. Dubbed the "tower of confusion" with some birds entering and some birds leaving. There seemed to be uncertainty on staying.

23 Sep - Everett Neighborhood: 20 about, three into President Apartment House at 1340 Lincoln Mall; one into Ambassador Apartment House, 1330 Lincoln Mall.

24 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 177, tornadic swarm above 404 South 11th Street in the northeast corner, then count of entrants done by 7:30 on cloudy, pre-rain evening; one in and one out earlier at 432 South 11th Street; others using 411 South 13th.

25 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 176, into 411 South 13th Street, and still entering after swifts seemed done with entry at 11th street chimney; at 411 finished at 7:45 on clear evening.

27 Sep - Haymarket: an estimated 300+ in a confusing count from the wrong vantage point at Mill Towne, making it difficult to see what was actually entering the chimney.

28 Sep - Mill Towne south Haymarket: 365, 1s in, then larger groups going in until very dark on cloudy night; group done 7:50; small bunches of swifts chased a passing Rock Pigeon, American Kestrel and Mourning Dove.

30 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 330, chimney at 411 South 13th St.; done by 7:35; 30 m.p.h. wind, clouds clearing.

October

01 Oct - Downtown Lincoln: nine, back chimney at 404 South 11th Street; many more at 411 South 13th Street.

03 Oct - Downtown Lincoln: 73, 27 into 1713 O Street, east portion for pawn shop; 46 into 1717 O Street, the Poor Boy Pottery business noted on the sign out back; group entry finished by 7:30 p.m.

03 Oct - East Downtown Lincoln; 25, generally about at former Bens auto parts building and southward.

03 Oct - UNL City Campus: 7 noted where they had been regularly seen throughout the summer.

04 Oct - East Downtown Lincoln: 98, Bens auto parts; done by 7:35 p.m.

O Asian Garden recessed roost site.

05 Oct - Hawley District: 128, 2545 O Street at empty O Asian Garden building; two story recessed; noted Friday evening after none were at nearby Midwest Sound at 2425 O Street. A confirming count was done Saturday morning.

06 Oct - Near South Neighborhood: 31, into residence chimney - with one-half covered - at 1140 South 20th Street at Mount Emerald neighborhood. It took repeated biking the streets to find this evening's roost.

07 Oct - Downtown Lincoln: 38, generally about 14th and O street airspace; one into 1400 O Street; 3-4 into northeast corner of the McKelvie Building 210 North 14th Street.

08 Oct - Downtown Lincoln: 25 flying about south side; two into 404 South 11th Street; others flew to northeast.

14 Oct - Downtown Lincoln: a single swift during the early afternoon, noted from the heights of Carriage Park. A couple hours later one was also seen over the nearby Everett neighborhood. None were seen during the evening's cloudy and rainy skies, with scattered clearing as the sun set.

This date is similar to the other known last occurrence date for Lancaster County in 1925, cited for Lincoln as reported by Mrs. Smith in the NOU Letters of Information.

Chimney Swifts were present about Lincoln in Nebraska for 180 days in 2007.

Swift Tally

Chimneys at several buildings had large numbers of swifts repeatedly use a premier roost.

411 Building, 411 South 13th Street, southwest corner: 10 Sep, 260; 17 Sep, 532 in a exhilarating rush; 18 Sep, 475; 25 Sep. 176; 30 Sep: 330.

Big chimney at Mill Towne, south Haymarket.

Mill Towne biggie, 650 J Street - 21 Sep, 197; 28 Sep, 365.

404 South 11th Street - 24 Sep, 177.

2545 O Street, O Asian Garden building - 5 Oct: 128, there was no chimney apparent at this two-story structure. After leaving the unused chimney at Midwest Sound, birds a block east in the same alley, were entering a recessed roost covered by a metal, boxlike contraption. A few swifts departing the next morning would strike the box.

It appears that this former supermarket will be torn down. This empty building was purchased in mid-August by the credit union already present at the southwest corner of the block; now owning nearly the entire city block.

Other notable buildings include Midwest Sound and Lighting at 2425 O Street, the former Ben's Auto Parts building and 1400 O Street, each which were used also in 2005.

A pair of buildings with first use noted this season were at 1330-1340 Lincoln Mall, the Ambassador and President apartment houses. These large, five-story chimneys were watched on 23 September.

The last count of chimney use was 31 birds Oct 6 in the residence chimney at Mount Emerald. Counts of 38 on 7 Oct and 25 on 8 Oct were made downtown, but it was not possible to find a particular roost used by most of the swifts counted flying about the urban skies. On the 7th, one swift used 1400 O Street, 3-4 used the McKelvie Building chimney and the others may have been over in the alley about the 200 North 12th / 1200 P streets, city block.

As the season waned, the day sky of the city would have a dearth of swifts. The skies were quiet until twittering birds arrived at a general locale, usually less than an hour before sundown. Then the swirl of birds began about the chosen chimney and once started, they quickly entered the roost as dark was covering the land.

Late season chimney use was more scattered for fewer birds. Although groups of 20-30 birds had gathered, only a few birds were seen using a chimney visible at the scene. Swifts went to other available chimneys amongst several within a couple of city blocks.

The different locales used this year provide a diverse array of chimneys useful for resident swifts, and different migratory flocks. Alternative sites allow birds to move around and select an optimal place on a particular day. Some sites obviously have a premier combination of features to provide a roost useful on a continued basis.

Considerations

The trend for a decreasing number of chimneys continues. Since 2005, several buildings razed in the Trago Park area includes residences near 20th and R streets, Supply Service, and two usable chimneys at 2100 O Street business structures. Three residences at 100 North 22nd were moved to north of city campus, renovated and sold to home buyers. Each structure removed was to make way for the expressway and other Joint Antelope Valley Authority project features.

Removal of the O Asian Garden building appears imminent. Three houses across the street - one which could possibly be used by a pair of swifts - are slated to be razed for a new business building.

The former Ben's Auto Parts building still sits empty, the owners of the site awaiting redevelopment as the JAVA project spreads. At the end of the season, construction had just started about a block away, for an O Street bridge. 

The limitation around central Lincoln is the shortage of smaller chimneys that can be used by a pair of swifts. Many of these potentially suitable structures are covered by a screen or some other thing. As birds successfully raise young, the breeding population cannot expand since there are no additional nesting structures. If chimney covers were removed, a number of additional nest sites could be provided.

Nearly all modern built buildings do not have chimneys. Suitably-sized structures can be built in alternate manners, and incorporated into the local environment a place for a pair. Proactive measures can enhance the value of Chimney Swifts, wherever they happen.