Creighton Destroys Chimney Swift Breeding Habitat

This a copy of an email sent to officials at the Nebraska field office of the Fish and Wildlife Service and a person in the facilities office of Creighton University on the morning of May 4th. An aerial photo of the buildings was included as an attachment. No response was received from either, so they were worthless in trying to protect the swift habitat. The site, which was a pile of rubble on May 13th, will be converted to a grass lot. It is quite disgusting that a building was torn down now to put in turf, when the demolition could have been delayed, until after the nesting season.

Demolition by a contractor is currently underway on buildings on the Creighton University campus. The removal is along the 2000 block of Cuming Street.

One building being removed is 2011 Cuming Street. The building has a chimney which is in good shape and 2.5 bricks by 2.5 bricks in size.

While looking over the site on the morning of May 3rd, chimney swift activity - a pair - was noted at the chimney site, as well as again on the morning of May 4th.

There are three reasons that nesting would be occurring in this chimney:

1) Repeated occurrence of birds during the nesting season

2) adequate size of the chimney

3) presence of multiple swifts in the immediate vicinity

Due to access limitations, there has been no opportunity to actually look down the chimney.

Creighton University is listed as the property owner, according to details at the Douglas County assessor's office. Since they are responsible for the removal, the University should be issued a citation for failure to evaluate the site for nesting activity (during the April 15 to July time period) and violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, i.e., destruction of a nest.

This matter needs to be suitably dealt with by the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The contractor should not be held responsible for a failure by the university to evaluate the site for nesting birds.

Creighton University should be fined $1000 for this violation. The money should be given to Heron Haven for construction of a swift tower.

(The aerial photo included shows the buildings being demolished, with the chimney mentioned in the center of the image, a bit below the blue splotch.)

Usable chimney at 2011 Cuming Street, prior to its demolition by Creighton University

Capped, but potentially usable chimney at 2011 Cuming Street, prior to its demolition by Creighton University

---

Creighton is focused on demolition of the majority of buildings in this area which were formerly useful as habitat for swifts. Refer to these two previous articles indicating similar demolition by this university of higher destruction, not learning:

Ongoing Expansion Threatens Chimneys for Urban Swifts

Creighton University Continues Destruction of Swift Havens

Creighton University Continues Destruction of Swift Havens

Another chimney has been torn down due to the spreading expansion of Creighton University campus.

The latest loss is a chimney on the 1900 block of Cuming Street, which has been known to be used by chimney swifts. In particular, on:

• 10 September 2003: 5 roosting swifts
• 9 September 2005: a bunch of roosting swifts
• 2 October 2007: 8 roosting chimneys

There are a number of additional swifts currently in the neighborhood, so it is highly plausible that swifts were using the chimney as it was being torn-down. It is even likely that there was a nest in the chimney.

Remnants of a historic building
which had a chimney regularly used as a roost by Chimney Swifts.

It is certain, however, that officials did not check to determine if nesting activity was underway.

The destruction of an active bird nest is a violation of a state of Nebraska regulations and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Elsewhere on campus, university officials were noted to have recently installed window film on the glass of the walkway between the science building and business building.

View of the building walkway showing the window film
used to create a visual barrier in order to reduce bird strikes.

Sadly, there has been nothing done on the upper floor on the west side of the Reinert Alumni Memorial Library, and a dead, female, Rose-breasted Grosbeak was noted here.

Carcass of a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak, killed by a window strike
at the Reinert Alumni Memorial Library, Creighton University.

Upon leaving the campus, my travel was stopped by a public safety officer. He wanted to talk to me, so I moved from the street to the nearby sidewalk. And then when he started talking about how I'd been on private property, the campus grounds - I moved some more to make sure I was standing on a public sidewalk.

The conversation continued. His first comment was that they were having troubles due to bike thefts. The next question: "Is that your bike?"

Of course it was because why would my ride be some lame bike whereas mine is riding real fine, and there is no bicycle theft in my history, nor will there ever be. I then said it was nice to see that they were working hard to protect the bikes!

After saying he was not going to foist some illegal activity on me, he wanted to know what I was doing on campus. I explained, the bird strike situation. He asked if I was the guy with the website? What website might you be referring to, I asked.

The big question was when he wanted to see my identification. My response was no. You have your position and I have mine, which did not include showing an id. I did give him my name, when asked.

By this time, there were two other public safety officers hurriedly approaching the scene.

It was a good time to go, so I indicated that I would be leaving, as there was no reason to be detained. Onward my route continued, though I should have kept to the street sidewalk, rather than cutting across the block on a campus walkway. One officer is enough, and if the other two had arrived while I was stopped, there certainly would have more more interrogation, as three men would have a lot more to question and nit about than one.

After this, the pictures of the site of the torn-down building were taken, from the public sidewalk along Cuming Street.

Creighton is being very successful in tearing down most of the chimneys usable by swifts in the neighborhood. There is already a shortage of nesting sites, and the loss of each one is a negative impact to the local population.

Irony of a Dead Flicker on Easter Morning at Creighton

It is ironic that the first dead bird found for the 2009 season was found Easter morning at Creighton University. The carcass was noted on the south side of the Mike and Josie Harper Center.

The Mike and Josie Harper Center for Student Life and Learning, according to website information, "Serves as Front Door" on the east side of the campus.

The irony is that University personnel profess that - as a religious institution - campus faculty and staff should, according to the message for this Easter:

He said that we would be judged by how we care for, or fail to care for, the least among us. ... Together, we can address systemic and global issues with faith-inspired hope. ... take greater care with the environment — Rev. Andy Alexander, S. J.

Northern Flicker carcass at the Harper Center, Creighton University, early on Easter morning. The dead bird remained upon my departure, to languish for some time until it would get unceremoniously thrown into the trash!

Millions of bird dying from striking buildings and getting killed is certainly a national and international issue. Although the comment of the Jesuit were focused on people, there should be no less attention to the plight of our natural neighbors.

It is doubtful that letting birds get killed on campus, and pursuing campus development that removes the homes for chimney swifts - which has a declining population - shows a greater care for the environment.

The flicker — with its unique and to use religious terminology "God-given life and beauty" — had been killed a day or two previous to Sunday morning. There was no glory of an holy resurrection for it on the third day. Its life was ended by men building dangerous architecture to glorify people, without any concern for what it may wrought on migratory birds.

There were a couple of interesting causes that lead to the finding of this dead bird, including an expectation the previous evening of finding a dead bird on the morning, and a flat-tire on the bicycle that meant being at the right place.

This bird is the eighth known bird death at this building. There have been three on the south side, three on the northwest side and one on the east side. Another died at the entryway. Strikes also occur elsewhere on campus, especially at a walkway on the west edge of campus where dried up and aged carcasses have been noted. There have probably been occurrences elsewhere.

Ongoing Expansion Threatens Chimneys for Urban Swifts

Property Acquisition Continues on Northeast Creighton University Campus

James Ed. Ducey

Acquisition of additional properties for the ongoing expansion of Creighton University will mean the further ruination of chimneys useful for breeding and migratory swifts.

The northeast portion of the campus and adjacent properties in North Downtown have a number of buildings with chimneys in the older buildings. A number of these on several city blocks - 16 individual parcels - are being acquired by Creighton University from Modern Equipment Company. The property will be used, possibly according to the campus master plan showing athletic fields southwest of 17th and Cuming Street. Student residences are shown on other portions of the purchased parcels.

An additional consideration is the ongoing discussion for a north downtown ballpark near 16th and Cuming Streets. This will mean removal of all buildings present on that tract. Other developments have altered the area, with new constructions of buildings - without chimneys - for the trendy NoDo.

Several chimneys used by swifts will eventually be removed from the area of the announced Creighton acquisitions. The parcel on the north side of the 2000 block of Cuming Street is being suggested for economic development as retail, service or residential use.

Chimneys and swift use in the northeast Creighton University campus area in northern Omaha. According to a university official, area A will be refabricated into housing and parking. Area B will be a ball field. Note the buildings recently demolished for the soccer complex now southwest of 17th and Webster streets.

During autumn surveys to record migratory birds, special scrutiny was given to these city blocks and to evaluate the status and features of its chimneys. The first few visits to this area were in the autumn of 2003 (Ducey 2003). Autumn 2005 research surveys were various intervals from 6-13 September.

Information on the buildings with chimneys includes street address, with parcel ownership and building date (usually) from the Douglas County Assessor's website. Other notes are based on the surveys or information from Creighton University.

Chimney List

There are many chimneys for the buildings of the area. The structures date to 1883, 1886, from the 1890s to 1920s and to 1949 and 1951. Smaller chimneys get used by breeding swifts, while larger sizes are roosts for local and migratory flocks. Those chimneys noted to be suitable for swifts are generally 2x2.5 bricks or larger, based on an evaluation of more than 90 chimneys in Lincoln during seasonal breeding.

Creighton University, established in 1878 - recent expansion extensively west of 17th and south of Cuming streets, and to a limited extent on 16th Street

- 611 North 16th Street; 2.5x2.5 bricks; since 1900

- 713 North 16th Street; formerly Parker Heating & Cooling, Inc., bought in 2000; 2.5 bricks square; since 1880

- 1702 Webster Street; Project One building: tallist 6x6 bricks square; since 1916

- 702-08 North 18th Street: 3 chimneys, with two of them vented, one which was still used as a roost for more than 50 swifts on 16 Sep 2003; since 1922

- 723 North 18th Street: Facilities Management building; 2.5 bricks and 6x6 bricks square; since 1916

- 815 North 19th Street; 5x5 bricks; since 1919

- 1913 Cuming Street; 2.5x2.5 bricks constricted and 4 bricks square, larger one a companion roost to 1819 Cuming building, though with a lesser number of birds; since 1919

- 723 North 20th Street; former Worley Body Shop, demolition planned for autumn 2005 according to a facilities official; 2x2 bricks, 2x2 bricks constricted and 2 x 2.5 bricks; since 1942

- 2002 Burt Street; Pittman building; 3.5x5 bricks; since 1949

- 2019 Cuming Street; 2x2 bricks; since 1900

- 2101 Cuming Street; 4.5x4.5 bricks; since 1926

12 chimneys possibly suitable, with some of these already removed with the demolition of the building since the survey was conducted.

Modern Equipment Co. Inc. - now Creighton University

- 816 Florence Boulevard; former service garage; 2x2 bricks; since 1949

- 1809 Cuming Street; 4x4 constricted; since 1918

- 2010 Cuming Street or 902 North 20th Street; 3x3 bricks with a second capped one of similar size; since 1925

- 2011 Cuming Street; 2.5x2.5 bricks; since 1898

O'Keefe Elevator Company Inc.

- 1624 Webster Street; originally M.F. Shafer & Co.; 7.5x8 bricks, used as a roost by a large number of autumn swifts, with at least 400 on 4 Sept 2003 and a video-count of 625 on 12 Sep 2005, that showed when some swifts were going into the chimney, others are leaving, probably not able to get a roost spot and then left to fly around before another reentry; 1917 date on building. Purchased by Creighton University. The building is currently undergoing renovation.

- 815 North 18th Street; compares favorably to 4x4 bricks; since 1886

Automatic Printing Company

- 1713 Cuming Street; 2x3 bricks capped; since 1916

- 1721 Cuming Street; 3x4.5 bricks and 5 bricks square capped with a vent

1 possibly suitable; 2 potential

1515 Cuming Street LLC

- 1504 Burt Street; former public warehouse now with broken windows and weeds growing along the roofline of what appears to be an unused building; cf. 2x2 bricks square constricted

- 1507-19 Cuming Street; 2x2 bricks in northeast corner, and 4.5x4.5 bricks; since 1913

1 chimney of roost size, and two possibly too small for breeding swifts

Others

- 1502 California; private owner; 2x2 bricks; since 1900

- 601-603 North 16th; was M. Tatle, hotel and now rooms, with the Happy Bar on the ground floor; 1910 date on building

- 610 North 16th Street; Sol's Jewelry and Loan Co., Inc.; 2x2 bricks, five 2x2.5 bricks and 2.5 bricks square; since 1880 making this the oldest multi-chimney building in Nebraska likely used by swifts

- 717-723 North 16th street; private owner; two 2.5 bricks, one constricted; since 1930

- 802 North 16th Street; Walker's Inc.; two 2x2.5 bricks; since 1922

- 1608 Webster Street; Moreco Plating Inc.; 2x2 bricks; since 1920

- 1607 Cuming Street; Cuming Building, now Aero Rooms, 1607 LLC; 2x2.5 bricks; since 1913

- 1702 Cuming Street; J.F. Bloom & Co. building, now Bank of Bennington; cf. 4x4 bricks; used as an autumn roost; since 1906

- 1715 Izard Street; Holy Family Church; 3.5x3.5 bricks; 1883 date on building cornerstone

- 1809 Burt Street; Precision Tool Inc.; cf. 2.5x2.5 bricks; since 1951

- 1801 Cuming Street; Grace Tabernacle Church; 2x2 bricks

Two of the threatened chimneys at 1819 Cuming Street, on the Creighton University Campus.

- 1819 Cuming Street; private landowner; 2x2 and 3.5x3.5 and 5x5 bricks; the big chimney is a companion roost to 1913 Cuming building with about 175 birds roosting on 12 Sep 2005; since 1890

- 801 North 20th Streets; Lutherans of Nebraska, Inc.; cf. 2x2 bricks, possibly too small to use as breeding habitat; since 1906

- 2020 Cuming Street; Omaha Machine and Supply Co.; 2x2 bricks and 4 bricks square; since 1922

- 2109 Cuming Street; Weston's Tavern; 2.5x2.5 bricks constricted; since 1925

14 chimneys

There are more than 30 chimneys of interest as swift habitat in North Downtown (see figure). The structures are scattered about the area at a variety of buildings of different age and condition. Since the 1880s when the first buildings were erected, there have been many decades, and likely more than a century of annual use of distinct chimneys by breeding and roosting swifts.

The oldest buildings noted in the area are dated to 1880, 1883 and 1886. If the chimneys at these locales are used by swifts, it would make them the oldest known structures used by swifts in Omaha.

Buildings owned by Creighton University account for most of the total. This number would have been greater in the recent past, but with ongoing expansion, buildings and their chimneys are being demolished. The oldest known building in the area - from 1880 - is university property with chimney apparently large enough, and probably suitable for breeding swifts.

New construction will remove additional properties in the long term, about 10-12 years according to an official in the university facilities department.

Expansion that University officials had previously said would occur in several years, has moved ahead. Further expansion can occur as new parcels are being acquired.

Regarding 723 North 18th Street, redevelopment would occur in several years. There were no current plans for the building at 1913 Cuming Street - dating to 1890. The place is in poor condition, including the east wall next to the roost chimney that is splitting away from the remainder of the structure. There were no plans for the University properties along 16th street, and these may be sold, according to the facilities official comments three years ago.

Elsewhere on campus, Creighton medical Center expansion meant a bunch of buildings were also removed to make way for a parking lot north of California Street and west of 30th Street. One house remains, with a small sized-chimney.

Other buildings also have a tenuous future. A second building from 1880 sits empty, and has a smaller sized chimney that may be suited for nesting swifts. At 816 Florence Boulevard, a very small, unused building sits empty on a prime corner lot within the projected campus area. Other places appear they are not used and await a new property future, one without regard to any importance of the chimney to resident birdlife.

While university and city officials promote development of the area for students and pedestrians, and feature outdoor events, there is a reduction in a key aspect of the community. There is no regard to the chimney dwelling birds which each day during the summer season eat a myriad of insect pests, improving the scene for people.

Nearly two-thirds - the majority - of the chimneys noted will be gone in the long-term, causing a dramatic decline in suitable places for swifts.

This urban setting has a continuing decline in habitat structures, with no mitigation for losses caused by demolition of buildings. Efforts are needed to provide replacement nesting towers and to conserve present chimneys where feasible to ensure representative sites featured at older buildings are maintained.

The trend for swifts, because of changes underway, indicates that these bugeaters habitat will severely decline in an area where they are now regularly so common in autumn. Habitat loss will cause a decline in their community status during the breeding season. Chimney Swifts migrating southward along the Missouri Valley will have fewer options for finding a safe haven for the night.

This north Omaha portion of the city is integral with the mix of the chimney swift's occurrence in other parts of this city, which is such an interesting place to study swift habits.

References

March 2003. Autumn roosting habitat for Chimney Swifts in eastern Omaha. Nebraska Bird Review 71(3): 1-8. Published in August 2005.

September 23, 2005. Article regarding chimney swifts on Creighton Campus. Creightonian. Omaha.