Swift Using New Urban Chimney

The new swift tower. Image courtesy of Marge Lumpe.

A chimney swift has been seen using the new chimney built on the city building at Cole Camp, Missouri.

After a previous report of a swift, Marge Lumpe visited the structure on June 7th, and saw one bird come in and use the shelter as a roost, she indicated in an email. She also commented that "Joyce Rosson of the Missouri Bird listserve said it was really lucky to get anyone using a brand new structure. She assured me that when one bird or pair find the tower, more will follow."

Construction of the new chimney was completed in mid-April, with the local Master Naturalists involved in getting it built. Donations were used to pay for the structure, and any monetary contributions are still welcome, and can be sent to Lumpe (P.O. Box 448, Cole Camp, MO 65325; or contact her at birdwatcher@msn.com).

The original brick and mortar chimney, despite efforts to retain the structure, could not be suitably rehabilitated for swift use, due to its poor structural condition.

Settling of the Chimney Swallows

About 7:30 o'clock last evening residents in the vicinity of Farnam's Mill, Ida Hill, witnessed an unusual and interesting spectacle. The tall stack of the mill looms upward over the building to a height of 70 or 80 feet. For several years past flocks of swallows have been accustomed to passing the night in the stack. Their numbers constantly increased, and last Fall many people gathered nightly to witness the settling of the birds. The swallows made their first appearance this Spring Thursday evening. They came in flocks of tens and twenties, and quietly entered the opening in the chimney. Last evening residents in the neighborhood and passers-by were surprised to see thousands of swallows approaching from all parts of the heavens. Their numbers were greatly augment until, it is estimated, that 7,000 or 8,000 birds were flying about. Shortly the immense flock arose to a height of several hundred feet and circled about, flying faster and faster, so thick that they appeared one moving and impenetrable mass. Suddenly the birds in the centre shot downward to the chimney, the feathered mass assuming a funnel shape. The birds then dropped quickly into the stack, seemingly in sections. After a portion of the flock had disappeared the other birds near the top of the stack remained for a time suspended, evidently to permit the settling of the birds within the stack, and then another section disappeared into the opening. While circling in the air the birds made a loud chirping noise that could be heard blocks away.

May 13, 1883. The settling of the swallows. New York Times. From the Troy Telegram, May 5.

Churches Block Chimneys Used by Swifts

Two churches in north Omaha have blocked chimneys, rendering them useless for chimney swifts.

Sacred Heart Church at 2218 Binney Street has blocked access to both of its chimneys.There are two chimneys on the west side of the church, and they are both now capped, apparently as a result of the building renovation done in 2010.

The silver of the vent placed atop the chimney is visible in the background of this picture.

Sacred Heard Church, Sunday morning, September 23, 2012.

Swift use of the chimneys was originally noted in the autumn of 2003.

Just a few blocks away at 2215 Grant Street, the Zion Baptist Church also capped its large chimney. Swift use was first noted here in the autumn of 2007.

Zion Baptist Church, Sunday morning, September 23, 2012.

This chimney at The Church of Jesus Christ Whole Truth, at 3105 North 24th Street, was recently used by hundreds of chimney swifts. It was a grand spectacle to watch them gather, then dart into their night's haven.

The Church of Jesus Christ Whole Truth, Sunday morning, September 23, 2012.

Opera House Chimney a Roost for Swifts

Late Local News.

Mayor Lasselle has for several days been watching the peculiar actions of the chimney swallows. Every evening large flocks of swallows can be seen swarming about the large chimney of the opera house. Presently one will take the lead and dart down into the chimney followed by the rest. Mayor Lasselle has watched them several evenings and on a rough calculation finds the number at from 1,000 to 2,000. They fly down into the furnace chimney to roost. During the summer many hundreds have made their nests there. When the entire number are settled it is stated that the lower walls are lined from top to bottom.

September 10, 1884. Logansport (Indiana) Pharos Tribune 10(70): 4.

Swifts - a Singular Phenomenon in Connecticut

Woodbury, Conn., May 24th, 1847.

An accident occurred in this place on the 18th of the present month, which neither that distinguished personage, the "oldest inhabitant," nor any other individual recollects to have witnessed or known before, and which, there, I deem worthy of record.

In the latter part of the day above mentioned, an immense flock of birds, commonly known as chimney swallows, collected over the village where by their gyrations, numbers and peculiar notes, they attracted much attention for about two hours, when they began to describe a regular circle in the heavens. This circle the mysterious visitors, by every evolution, made smaller and smaller until it became quite contracted, when suddenly they commenced descending into a well which was directly under the centre of the former movements. Soon some of them were seen flying out, and for a few minutes many were moving in each direction, though the greatest number moving in.

While the birds continued thus entering and escaping, some individuals approached the well, and for a time stood directly over it, observing the movements of the little adventurers. The presence of the observers was not at first regarded by them, but they continued their apparent purpose of a visit to the cool waters for a while, when they ceased to fly in, and immediately disappeared entirely from the heavens.

On examination we found the water about four feet below the surface of the ground, and the well being completely covered with the birds — many of them dead and others dying, and all, as was very manifest, having first alighted directly in the water.

After all had flow away that seemed able or willing, an individual went into the well in order to remove the rest, but so thick were the birds in the crevices that he was obliged to clear away numbers to find places for his hands and feet. He collected upwards of seven hundred, as was found by enumeration, and as many more flew away before he entered.

The object of the visitants no one can divine, and they did not see fit to tell us intelligibly, though they kept up quite a chattering among themselves. We therefore state the facts, and leave it for others, either by the yankee privilege of guessing or other means to ascertain the reason. These statements are made by one who was an eye-witness.

Yours, &c.

S.M.

If we had not the name of the most respectable and reliable eye witness to the above phenomenon, we should have pronounced it rather fishy. As it is, we are bound to believe the statement, however unnatural and unaccountable it may appear.— Ed.

Birds - singular phenomenon. June 1, 1847. New York Evening Express, page 2. From the New Haven Herald.

Chimney Swallows Captured for Shootists

Though wild pigeons were prominently used as targets for shootists during the latter 1870s, a bit of an article indicates another species that was obviously also suitable. It was smaller in size and would have a completely different response upon release from capture, but they were still of enough interest to be captured by devious means. The little bblack birds were especially vulnerable during the autumn when they congregated while migrating southward.

A bit of news in a regional paper reveals a glimpse of the taking of the chimney swallow.

"At Bowling Green, Ky., recently two men secured 3,576 chimney-swallows in one evening, to be used at a shooting match. Modus operandi: Put an empty bed-tick over the top of the chimney and start a fire below."

These details are from a news item issued in September, 1878 which gave no indication whether or not this was a normal endeavor. Further details could have provided a unique perspective on this completely distinct report regarding the taking of Chimney Swifts at this time in Kentucky.

This is just one more detail of historic ornithology to appreciate, as issued in a newspaper decades in the past.

Perspective on Chimney Swift Season 2011

Chimney Swifts. December 2011. Meadowlark 40(10): 4-6. Newsletter of the Audubon Society of Omaha.

Chimney Swifts were around Omaha before the city was just a few shacks and fields west of the Missouri River in the mid-1850s. As the settlement grew, buildings of many sorts were placed upon the land, and the small, darting black bug eaters of the sky took advantage of the chimneys which were an essential construct for each new building.

More was better. There were a myriad of places for the swifts to rest during the breeding season and roost during migrations. Suitable places were used again and again as havens by so many birdly generations.

For the swifts, every year of their presence locally is affected by actions beyond their influence. Bug eaters require a proper chimney, with the extent of suitable places constantly changing, often dramatically, as indicated by the 2011 season.

After arriving in mid-April — providing an exciting notice of spring — swifts were typically seen in the urban skies of the metropolis. Thenceforth they could be readily appreciated, with records of their mighty presence noted during bird surveys of city sites.

As summer waned, groups gathered at their typical roosts in larger chimneys, with prominent eastern Omaha locales known to some extent after ten years of swifting.

Salvation Army Center Oct. 13, 2011

The peak of the season was October 9 and 10 when three roosts — within a mile radius — swarmed with activity. Near 44th and Izard Streets, there were 925 the first evening, 1025 the next morning at the 9.5x9.5 brick chimney at Duchesne, and then the phantasmagoria of circa 1400 at the Blackstone District church the second evening. A second visit to the latter site provided the same dynamo of a display two days later. This is the largest known congregation of swifts ever recorded in Nebraska, based upon 1,835 known records which date to 1899 in Omaha.

A new roost location was found near the end of the season when about 90 swifts dived into the multistory, towering chimney at the Salvation Army facility west of Bemis Park. There was another roost across Cuming Street.

A tragedy of the year occurred in the autumn when an important chimney roost (about 300 used the roost in early October 2009) was blocked. The Dundee Presbyterian Church installed new heating equipment, a vent was placed within the chimney and its entrance was capped. Officials of the church were indifferent to the impact when informed.

At Leavenworth Street and St. Mary’s Avenue, renovation of the Canterbury apartment buildings meant the loss of several chimneys as they were obliterated with the installation of a new roof. Another large chimney was capped when a new vent was installed.

These two instances are symptomatic of the regular, ongoing decline in the extent of chimneys suitable as old structures are modified or razed. There is no new swift habitat being constructed. The decline hampers the lives of the city’s swifts and the visiting migratory flocks.

Swifts were last seen on the evening of October 15 near 49th Avenue and Dodge Street, though the eventual roost for the four birds could not be determined as the birds flew away into the evening’s gloom.

The latest date for swifts in the metro area, based upon 1,221 known records for Douglas and Sarpy Counties, is October 21, 2009 when nine were noted early in the morning near Criss Library on the UNO campus.

Ode to the Chimney Swallow

The Chimney Swallow, written by Edward R. Campbell. From "Poets and Poetry of Vermont" edited by Abby Maria Hemenway and published in 1859.

WHEN the winter melts away,

Flowing into balmy May;

When the buds and blossoms fair

Waft their fragrance on the air;

When the insects, on the breeze,

Dance around the forest-trees;

Then the twittering swallows come,

Speeding on the breath of spring,

Swiftly to their summer home,

And, like restless spirits, roam

On the wing.

 

Few at first — a chosen band,

Vanguards, here to "spy the land;"

Yet, ere fades the morrow's sun,

Thousands take the place of one.

Whence they come, or whither go,

Only swallows ever know;

Mortals only know they're here;

Coming, going, twittering;

Coming, going with the year,

Fleeing, ere comes autumn sear,

On the wing.

 

Whether at the South they rove,

Sporting in the orange grove;

Whether housed in lakes, or fens,

Caverns low, or mountain dens,

Matters not; but, on the wind,

Leaving it to lag behind,

Darting, diving in the air,

On they come, undallying,

Feasting on the insects there;

Void of hope, or fear, or care,

On the wing.

 

Why, O, bird aerial! fly,

Never resting, through the sky?

Pride? E'en Lucifer may go,

Welcome to the earth below!

Art thou an unearthly thing,

Thou with long, black, narrow wing,

Pinions strong, and body slight,

Speeding, speeding, curveting;

Saving in the gloom of night,

Ever in thy ceaseless flight,

On the wing.

 

See! in circuits, broad and high,

Circling less and less they fly;

Then in column, hovering low,

Down the chimney's throat they go;

Clinging to its wall the breast, —

Watching for the dawn, they rest.

Such their life from day to day,

Till, as came they in the spring,

Unobserved they pass away,

Speeding as immortals may,

On the wing.

Renovation Destroys Swift Habitat

Renovation of historic apartments in Omaha has destroyed chimneys useful for Chimney Swifts.

The Canterbury Apartments at Park Avenue and Leavenworth Street are being renovated from their former dilapidated condition. Additional apartment houses in the same vicinity are going through the same process.

One of the first construction activities at the Canterbury was to provide a new roof on the buildings. When this was done, all of the chimneys were removed.

An earlier story pondered the fate of these buildings. The buildings will remain but their best features have been obliterated.

The south Canterbury Apartment house shown without its once prominent chimneys.

Other Destruction

Another building with a fine chimney has been razed. It had been present since 1900, providing a useful haven for 111 years. Since it had been abandoned and was completely unkempt, it was simply removed. There was just one chimney, but the loss of just one decreases the options available for the swifts, and continues the trend of continual decline in the only habitat - chimneys - used by the little, black bugeaters.

Swift habitat recently destroyed.

Eastern Omaha Swifts Chimney Future Uncertain

An apartment house with a chimney well known to Chimney Swifts currently sits abandoned in eastern Omaha.

The Nottingham Apartments, at 33rd and Burt Streets, is a prominent chimney in the neighborhood, and is known to be regularly used by hundreds of swifts during the autumn migration. There were about 350 counted one evening in mid-September 2008.

The building is now uninhabited - with windows and entries boarded over - and has been for sale for several months.

Apartment house chimney on April 20, 2011.

The two adjacent houses to the west are also boarded up.

What the future portends for this apartment houses is uncertain, but the loss of this particular chimney would be a significant loss of a roosting site used by numerous Chimney Swifts. It would also continue the trend in the loss of chimneys in the local area.

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.

Late-autumn Season of Chimney Swifts at River City

During the late-autumn times for Chimney Swifts at Omaha during 2009, weather was a big factor that certainly influenced their end-of-season occurrence as well as affecting attempts to observe where they were present.

Once these birdly bugeaters arrive in town, there are here to stay until the autumnal migration. Certainly their occurrence is of utmost importance, but since it would be a huge task impossible for any individual to map this information, this report will indicate where swifts were noted in particular after mid-September.

Swifts were present at 32 different east-Omaha localities from 10 September to October 21. The general vicinities, listed in alphabetic order, were:

Benson Blackstone District Brownell-Talbot School Grounds Carthage Cathedral Creighton University Campus Downtown Omaha Drake Area Duchesne Academy Dundee at Dodge Street Dundee Place Elmwood East Neighborhood Elmwood Park Meadow Elmwood Park Pines Elmwood Park Ravine Field Club Fontenelle Forest

Hanscom Park Neighborhood Happy Hollow Creek Izard Industrial Zone Memorial Park Nebraska Medical Center Campus Old Market Saddle Creek Environs Shadow Lake, Elmwood Park Spring Creek Prairie Spring Lake Park Turner/Dewey Park UNOmaha Campus Walnut Hill West Downtown Wood Creek, Elmwood Park

Since swifts are such an easy species to identify, any occurrences could be determined in just a few moments when these birds can be seen above in the skyscape, and most importantly at chimneys which provide vital and essential overnight roost sites. Attention was given to visiting buildings with chimneys which swifts had been known to visit (based on information from 2008 and previous years) as well as any new sites were activity was noted in the early morning when swifts leave their overnight roosts, or in the late evening, when these birds gather about the chimney where they are going to roost.

Notable places in particular, during latter September, were:

• 468 leaving the big chimney of a historic building at Duchesne Academy on 11 September
• 304 using the chimney at the Casa Linda apartment house on south 49th Avenue at Dodge Street on 12 September
• 475 at the chimney at the Casa Linda apartment house on south 49th Avenue at Dodge Street on 21 September, where there was a count of 368 done on 29 September.

Numerous other counts were made from mid- to late-September at various places at the general localities indicated.

Swifts were prevalent during early October, and the continued to occur into the middle of the month, despite weather conditions which did not seem favorable for a bird which relies upon bugs for their daily sustenance.

Since Omaha is a primary locality for Chimney Swifts during the breeding and migratory season, the following records provide some indication of their occurrence during the end of the season. These are the known occurrences of the best bugeater in Nebraska, during October, presenting details on the general vicinity, date including the Julian date, number and notations to indicate details essential to knowing precisely where the swifts were.

Notes on the swifts' occurrence were done in a systematic manner based on visits to known roost sites, but when their occurrence otherwise became especially prominent, information was recorded and entered into a database which includes more than 1000 records of occurrence for just this species. This dataset makes a comparative analysis possible.

• Blackstone District - 10/01/2009; 336 swifts - p.m. count, done a few minutes before 7:30, with sunset at 7:05: Columbian School Apartments; partly cloud with strong winds
• Drake Area - 10/01/2009; 388 swifts - a.m. departure from CASA building; cloudy and windy
• Benson - 10/03/2009; 178 - p.m. count at Benson Community Center
• Dundee Place - 10/04/2009; 297 - p.m. entrants at Dundee Presbyterian Church
• Shadow Lake, Elmwood Park - 10/04/2009; 2 - flying about during bird survey
• Drake Area - 10/04/2009; 17 - a.m. departure; clear and temperatures in the upper 30s; extended departure not done by sunup; 1908 Leavenworth Street
• Drake Area - 10/04/2009; 180 - a.m. return, during partial count upon return to chimney at Anderson Apartments; morning clear and temp around 40o
• Happy Hollow Creek - 10/04/2009; 5 - more to the north at church roost
• Elmwood Park Ravine - 10/04/2009; 5 - flying about during bird survey
• Elmwood Park Pines - 10/04/2009; 5 - flying about during bird survey
• Dundee at Dodge Street - 10/05/2009; 42 - done by 7:15 p.m. with cloudy and light rain: 6, 25, 9, 2 in Dundee Theater in p.m.; once these were in, in a few brief moments, about half flew out and went into Casa Linda chimney across Dodge Street, where large numbers had already roosted
• Dundee at Dodge Street - 10/06/2009; 228 - p.m.: none present at arrival, then 14, 39, 68, 69, 37 into Casa Linda chimney; done by 7:20; one also in chimney of Elwood Apartment House
• Old Market - 10/07/2009; 65 - p.m. touristy visit and drive after eating; ca. 20 into Fairmont Building chimney; with others foraging above the buildings
• Dundee at Dodge Street - 10/08/2009; 105 - p.m.: into Casa Linda chimney; others over at Dundee Theater; cloudy, temps in mid-40s
• Dundee Place - 10/08/2009; 2 - p.m.: into chimney at Alhambra Apartments; possibly others
• Elmwood Park Meadow - 10/09/2009; 9 - swifting for bugs above the woods
• Elmwood Park Pines - 10/09/2009; 4 - above the conifers and westward to the UNOmaha campus
• Dundee at Dodge Street - 10/09/2009; 86 - p.m. watching; at Dundee Theater; 5.5x6 bricks; height about two stories; many others using chimney across Dodge Street
• Memorial Park - 10/09/2009; 3 - higher in the aerial realm
• Turner/Dewey Park - 10/09/2009; 125 - swirling about in the a.m., a few from chimney of First Lutheran Church; 4x4.5 bricks, four stories; at 542 south 31st Street

Alhambra Apartments. These three pictures were taken the morning of 10 October.

Casa Linda apartments.

Dundee Theater.

• Memorial Park - 10/10/2009; 24 - at midday, low-height foraging amidst a few flurries, with a few inches of snow on the ground; many later noted at less than ten feet above the ground
• Dundee at Dodge Street - 10/10/2009; 41 - dusk at Casa Linda: 2 out, 2 in, 8, 10, bunch arrived, 21; no swarming with an early roosting; done before 7 p.m.; none noted across Dodge Street
• Brownell-Talbot School Grounds - 10/10/2009; 25 - latter afternoon just above tree height
• Dundee at Dodge Street - 10/11/2009; 2 - dusk at Casa Linda: 1 in at 6:45, the other at 6:49; cloudy, with days high temps in the upper 30s
• Benson - 10/12/2009; 8 - p.m. at Benson Community Center: 1 at 6:39, 1 at 6:41, 2 at 6:42, 3 at 6:44, 1 at 7:02; cloudy with days' temps max in upper 30s; sunset at 6:47
• Benson - 10/15/2009; 1 - noted flying about above east Benson; roost not apparent on a cloudy evening
• Memorial Park - 10/16/2009; 16 - noted flying about above park and to westward about 1:30 p.m.
• Elmwood Park Ravine - 10/18/2009; 1 - particularly noted above the creek and trees during the early afternoon; noticed during a focused look after leaving the UNO library
• Spring Lake Park - 10/19/2009; 2 - readily seen above the magnificent trees as the bugeaters were searching for another buggy bit to eat
• Carthage - 10/19/2009; 7 - foraging about in the late evening; expected overnight low about 50o
• Dundee Place - 10/19/2009; 5 - foraging about in the late evening
• Memorial Park - 10/19/2009; 40 - foraging about above the park scene in the late evening about 6 p.m.; includes UNOmaha campus and above Dundee Presbyterian Church
• UNOmaha Campus - 10/21/2009; 9 - at 7:30 a.m., west of the library; temp 59o with temporary, partially clear skies; lows overnight from 61-63o; temps dropped after 10 a.m., sliding into the 40's, with drizzle throughout the day

The most profound aspect of this tally is that Chimney Swifts continued to occur after the 10 October snowfall when several inches of snowfall occurred, though later in the day, temperatures warmed, and swifts were seen foraging above Memorial Park.

Weather on subsequent days did not seem conducive for swifts to continue to occur. Skies were a drab gray. These are the temperature for the following days, according to records of the National Weather Service:

10 Oct: day's high 41o Fahrenheit, low 27o

11 Oct: 40, 31

12 Oct: 45, 33

13 Oct: 47, 30

14 Oct: 45, 37

15 Oct: 49, 43

Yet swifts were still to be seen foraging in the skies. On the 15th of October, a single swift seen at Benson, seemed to be one of the last of these birds to be lingering in the region on another chilly day; and the sighting was expected to be the last of the year.

This was in incorrect assumption. The following day - 16 October - there was a bunch above Memorial Park. Further observations continued, and each was a notable event. Especially surprising were the numbers on 19 October, from the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus eastward to Dundee and the Carthage neighborhood.

Site / Region	Date	Number
Gifford Park	09/09/2008	350
Elmwood East Neighborhood	10/07/2008	360
Duchesne Academy	09/11/2009	468
Dundee at Dodge Street	09/12/2009	304
Dundee at Dodge Street	09/21/2009	475
Dundee at Dodge Street	09/29/2009	368
Blackstone District	10/01/2009	336
Drake Area	10/01/2009	388

The end of season highlight was on 21 October, on a wet and warm morning. When a few swifts were seen in the skies above a bus-stop on Dodge Street near the UNO campus, this was the latest date when this species had ever been personally observed, and was certainly a notable personal achievement derived from regular looking to the skies to see if these wonderful birds were still around.

On 22 October, it was cold with temperatures steady around 41o, and steady rain, so once again this observers view was that the swifts had moved southward. According to notes on a couple of online bird forums, observers in Kansas and Missouri were surprised that this species was still obvious in the skies above their towns and cities, a day or two earlier.

There were several counts of more than 300 swifts at one particular place made this season, as well as last year, as shown in the table.

More than ten counts from 205 to 297 swifts were also made.

The chimney with a continued, large-scale use during the period was at the Casa Linda apartment house at the 100 block of south 49th Avenue.

There were likely other chimneys with larger numbers - especially downtown - but constraints on travel prevented any surveys except for what could get safely done during daylight hours in a limited region from midtown to Benson, or at downtown Omaha during early morning hours.

Swift Migration Times

Chimney at a building which will likely soon be razed as it is abandoned. The structure was built in 1900. Picture taken 18 September 2009.

There are latter known dates when swifts have occurred in southeast Nebraska, but there has been little attention given to documenting the particular places where they roost and occur in particular during the end of their season along the Missouri River.

Three later dates are 24, and 27 October in the south and east portion of the state, according to known occurrence details associated with the updated information associated with the Birds of Nebraska book, as maintained by Ross Silcock, one of its authors. The latest date of occurrence is 5 November, in Douglas County.

Details derived during the 2009 autumn included findings of new places important to the species and their ongoing survival. Thankfully, there were no known chimney sites which were destroyed, though a couple of roost chimneys will certainly be razed in the near future, based on their obvious decrepit condition.

According to those 1025 available records, the Chimney Swift - in Douglas and Sarpy Counties - is present from mid-April to 21 October. This would be a period of about 194 days, based upon Julian date details. Other sources would present something different.

Chimney Swift Nesting Towers the Focus for an Expanding Research Project

A research project to understand the use of nesting towers by the Chimney Swift has recently expanded from Connecticut to a nationwide extent with the intent to assist the Chimney Swift, which are declining in numbers across their entire range.

The decline may be caused by a loss of nesting habitat, as chimneys are being capped to prevent access, or removed as older buildings are demolished. Newly constructed buildings do not always include chimneys, so few new breeding places are being developed.

"A potential solution is to provide additional suitable nesting sites through the proliferation of chimney swift towers," said Tanner Steeves, a graduate assistant at the University of Connecticut, and a member of the University of Connecticut Ornithology Research Group. Steeves helped to develop a new design for constructing nesting towers for the swifts, and is a project manager for a project to document swifts breeding in towers constructed for their use.

The "Chimney Swift Project" will document the location of existing swift towers, and track their yearly occupancy. The project was originally started by Margaret Rubega, a professor at the University of Connecticut, as well as the State Ornithologist.

A request for assistance from swift enthusiast's in North America was recently posted in different online bird forums. Tracking of swift tower locations originally started in Connecticut, Steeves said. The researchers wanted to increase their "sample size for adequate scientific scrutiny," so they asked other birders and conservationists for information about any towers they were aware of.

"We hope to evaluate the importance of tower design and placement for the conservation of swifts," said the message from Steeves, and Margaret Rubega, also involved with the project. "We are asking anyone who knows of an existing tower, or who intends to build one, to provide the tower location (GPS coordinates welcome, but not necessary), along with the tower owner or manager's contact information."

Towers have been constructed for use by the Chimney Swift (Chateura pelagica) for many decades, according to scattered details in the ornithological literature.

The Chimney Swift Project intends to evaluate the value of different structures currently in use and to figure how newly built nesting sites are beneficial.

"We are interested in creating a new swift tower design that would be inexpensive, affordable, lightweight, easily constructed, and moveable," Steeves said. "We feel that these characteristics will increase the likelihood of their construction by local birding groups, and perhaps their effectiveness - if the initial placement of a tower resulted in no occupancy, it can be relocated."

Towers built using the new design have been built and installed at Storrs, Connecticut, and the performance of this design is still in the process of being evaluated.

"We are still in the process of refining this design. As we heard of more towers throughout Connecticut and the Northeast, we began to consider the efficacy of these towers more seriously. It turns out that the installation of a swift tower does not guarantee it to be occupied by nesting swifts. There has been no continent-wide assessment of swift towers, so we decided to start reaching out to see if we could get a basic idea of how many towers were out there, where they are, and if they are being occupied by swifts.

"The allocation of conservation dollars is an important consideration for most organizations, so it is important to know how well they work," Steeves said, noting two important questions: "Do Swift towers help stabilize declining populations?," and "What is the pattern of occupancy of swift towers?

Answering these questions might help conservation efforts for the species, he said.

The database of swift nesting towers, will "eventually be available for public viewing, hopefully in some sort of web-based manner," said Steeves.

Public education and outreach are other opportunities for the project. Activities of the swifts could be viewed through web-cams, or autumnal gatherings could provide bird watching opportunities.

Contributions from swift enthusiasts "are greatly appreciated and will help future conservation efforts" for the swifts, he added. The monitoring can help with better understanding the distribution and occurrence of the birds.

This project has been funded by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CTDEP), and the University of Connecticut's Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, and is being completed in partnership with Shannon Kearney of the CTDEP Wildlife Division.

Swift's Industrial Setting at 43rd Avenue and Izard Street

Upon arrival on the bicycle from down the hill, there were first the super-fine aerial antics of three nighthawks against the lessening blue.

Robin and nighthawk scene of the evening from the front stoop of industry. Also about were grackles prominent in their black, going southward. Starlings seen once in awhile a couple of times, flapping along to where they were going.

Such expression in the skies. Here and there the swifts flit about. How sweet as they convey such special aerial thrills so smoothly shown with their inherent acrobatic skills.

Threes and twos. Then small bunches focus into their towering roost. Above is still the flap-quick-pause - repeated again and again - of the nightjar beholding to some local roof-top?

More bug-eaters gather and swoop together into and beyond a distinct sunset. Such splendor they convey during another Friday evening.

First one in at dusk, solely for a while. Then a companion, and after so many more twitters - by birds against the blues of the encroaching night - there is the swift drops of each bird into the brick shelter of the night. One, than a few at the prominent east chimney over there on Izard Street. Down the shoddy street to the west, and a bit off into the south, near the enticing horizon many more were gathered about that subdued, and obviously beneficial stack of aged bricks.

Most of the swifts roosted in that place over beyond a first place of repose to get views. A few than a bunch and more gathered, and some of the swift also came about and some then others disappeared into the unseen recess of the Qwest maintenance facility, on the west side of 43rd Avenue, at Izard, upon a height over Cuming.

Chimney scene along Izard Street, midtown Omaha.

Count details indicate a half-dozen or so into the chimney first watched, then at least 92 into the west place, which brought its own version of undivided attention to see an obviously well-done display of diving, one bird, then one bird, each one that followed at its chosen time. Then a splurge of several to get the gathering well underway, and until the whole bunch were getting settled together in the depths of the chimneys, here and elsewhere not seen.

The local evening's exhibition was finished by 9:15 p.m., after sense and nuance.

Holy Union of Chimneys and Swifts at Rivercity

Among the urban scenes of the river city, there are the places which make swell haunts for the chimney swifts. Here and there are the brick chimneys of many character to provide a nesting site or a seasonal roost.

About Benson, it is a holy union. Spiritual bricks soaring to the heavenly realm are also blessedly important to some local swifts. There is another bunch of half a dozen down the alley. It is another church, with a third further east beyond the alleyway.

Benson Presbyterian Church.

St. Paul United Methodist Church.

Bethany Lutheran Church. All pictures taken June 14, 2009.

Ample stacks are part of the many other historic buildings in the business district, and it is an absolute phantasm of swifts along the way when peddling along the travel avenue.

Two views of chimneys of buildings in the Benson business district. June 14, 2009.

Around the former Military Theater, also now a church, there were swifts getting about as they are prone to do in the evening times. Some more - at least six - were about the big stack just north of Cuming Street, up around the corner there on ambling 45th street.

Aflight at Memorial Park there were two noted during an ample look at the horizon and darkening clouds from atop the hill with the big monument.

Appropriately, at Dundee there is during the day times a dynamic bunch of swifts coursing an urban scene with laudable loops and curls and dances on their wings against the azures of so much space above where they reside with aplomb.

Appearing regularly during the languid summer eves is a nice small flock of bugeaters in the skies above Carthage, with distinctive dogs barking in many yards as the sun settles in the west, and the occasional cars to lay a flow on the scene. There are at least four in this bunch, which usually includes antics with the typical animus of the local nighthawk.

Apparently there are many enclaves for the Chimney Swifts airborne at the eastern extent of the Rivercity, in the valley of the big muddy, out among and beyond the tall downtown and westward on the hills beyond Happy Hollow.

Assorted chimneys of architectural appeal amongst the built environment of these districts of streets and structures are of an infinite variety. The construction is of utmost importance to the bug-eating swifts at those places whence they always provide many appreciations when given some attentions.

Chimney-scape in the industrial area south of Walnut Hill school.

Birdly Requiem - Swift Building Razed for Urban Redevelopment in Lincoln

View on Sunday evening, May 17, 2009. Chimney Swifts were heard in the skies while this photograph was taken along the traffic corridor. Within days, the place which was so important for the aerialists of the sunlight skies will be obliterated, gone from the urban landscape.

A grand gathering place for swifts is being razed - destroyed - obliterated - and basically removed in east downtown Lincoln. The former Ben's Auto Parts building at 2020 O Street is the notable structure.

Swifts will be dramatically forced to adapt - change - move etc., though it was no choice of theirs. Nor were they given any options and no advocate spoke for them at a public hearing! The people of Lincoln - through their official machinations - unbearably forced the negative change upon the birds.

The chimneys of the historic structure have been an important place for swifts ever since it was built, though this was not really apparent for the structure until 2005, due to a personal interest of a citizen.

This tally indicates the ongoing use of the two building chimneys.

• 29 May 2004 - 4 swifts; this was the first time that chimney use was documented, and the realization meant an ongoing investigation of this locale and other places in central urban Lincoln which were important to swifts
• 2 July 2005, 8 swifts
• 22 July 2005, 2 swifts
• 1 August 2002, 9
• 5 August 2005, 10
• 16 August 2005, 37
• 18 August 2005, 71 counted during dusk when the swifts dive into a place for the night
• 21 August 2005, 65
• 22 August 2005, 50
• 25 August 2005, 65; during a view from the rooftop
• 23 April 2007, 2 at the beginning of the season for swifts in Salt Valley
• 11 September 2007, 89
• 3 October 2007, 25
• 4 October 2007, 98; a grand spectacle of the swift maneuverings as they gathered in a sublime congregation cooperating to drop into the night's shelter so important to their survival

The value of the place for Chimney Swifts is readily obvious, based on confirmed records of sightings. Though this period of documentation is slight, the use continues until the building is gone, but there was no one that cared enough to record the events as swifts continued to gather during subsequent years.

Ben's Auto Parts building, June 27, 2005. Note the central chimney, with a second usable chimney on the northwest corner.

Bens Auto Parts building, August 15, 2007.

Developers ignore the many-year history when this place obviously meant so much to the swifts. The ignorance goes back ten years, a couple of decades and beyond into dim city history when these birds found that a human construct became a place of value to their seasonal existence in an urban landscape.

This building is in close association with the Joint Antelope Valley Authority project which has redesigned the Antelope Creek drainage-way through the city. Their legacy upon swifts is readily apparent in the annals of a focused perspective.

It was inevitable that the building would disappear, as it was an empty commercial space, with the property more valuable than the structure, in a view based on economic considerations. There was no option of leasing the place.

The swifts will suffer from the bludgeoning results. Where will the birds find a place that has been so notably suitable for their needs?

The slow but insidious and continual destruction of swift places continues in this neighborhood, as there have been many other chimneys used by breeding or roosting swifts destroyed in association with the socalled urban renovation associated with the JAVA project.

Nothing has been done to address the needs of the avian dwellers in this urban space. Place by place has been obliterated by officials of many ilks. One by one the havens are demolished. Raze and replace almost be an obvious mantra.

It is a continual assault on swift places. These birds forage endless hours to remove bugs from urban skies, yet the human beneficiaries respond by doing their best to remove places which the bugeaters appreciate as an important shelter.

There is a loss for each swift.

Officials should apologize to the swifts for the mindless drive of development which is a direct detriment to your existence. City officials and others in Lincoln and other urban centers obviously do not care in any apparent manner about what they wrought upon your seasonal life. My best wish is that there may be an alternate chimney to now use? Will the destruction of the building destroy a nest, protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, though officials of that regulate this law, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are oblivious, again.

There needs to be be a grand structure built where the bug eaters of the city skies can find shelter, but there is no official budget for such a thing that would be tall, made of brick, and sturdy with walls upon which you would like to cling during the night of repose from April to October, with your needs a primary focus!

As for now though, shame on the inane drive for improvement that decimates subtle appreciations of the historic buildings of east downtown Lincoln. Officials be damned for what you ignore in the mindless drive for change, without any consideration of what you destroy, again and again. Then once more, again against the birdly neighbors.

How would development officials and supporters like to return to their safe place some day and find that it has been obliterated ... completely? This is the Chimney Swifts future this week on O Street.

How dismal is the onslaught which continues to destroy the places for Chimney Swifts in urban Lincoln. The city isn't green in this regard, and has not made any effort to mitigate for the destruction.

Why?

Construction activity at the Ben's Auto Parts building. October 6, 2007.

October Roosting of the Chimney Swift at the River City

Chimney at the Wareham Building on an October morning after the swifts had departed, on their way to foraging about the Missouri River valley.

Chimney Swifts are a common sight in the aerial realm of Omaha in the latter weeks of their seasonal stay. Although the daily skies may have just a few of the feathered bugeaters about, once dusk approaches, there are regular gatherings at the choice chimneys that provide essential shelter and comfort for a chilly autumn night.

Once the Purple Martins finally went southward for warmer climes, it was time to bicycle around to evaluate how swifts were using various chimneys where birds had previously been noted during a few weeks of survey efforts during mid-August to mid-September, 2003. Due to the mode of transportation, there were limitations on the places that were visited, and thus several places which would have had notable gatherings, were not visited.

The scenario was to arrive at a suitable locality at least 30-45 minutes prior to the expected time when the first swift would take a dive into the chimney. This provided some flexibility to see if they were actually present, or whether an alternate site nearby should where to count the birds as they would descend into the roost. Some additional details were the result of being in downtown Omaha at sunrise, when swifts would depart in a staggered manner from the roost they had used overnight. It is even easier to count in the morning, instead of the evening, when a bunch of swifts can quickly enter a chimney - making a detailed count difficult - versus the morning they depart, a few birds at a time.

Roosting Swifts

Omaha has the facilities that provide important seasonal residences for the swifts. A variety of chimneys provide roosts that are essential shelter for hundreds of these birds to spend the night while they eat hundreds of thousands of bugs from the skies of the region during the daylight hours. There are many buildings with important, and useful roosts.

Recognizing the chimneys used by swifts indicates the important roost habitats, useful for evaluating changes and trends in how the extent and conditions of these structures are changing due to urban renewal and building construction.

One thing is certain, there are no new chimneys being constructed, and older buildings are constantly being cleared. Some important structures, have been renovated, and the chimney remains to provide shelter for the bugeaters. The long-term prognosis indicates a steady decline in the extent of chimneys used for breeding and roosting.

These are the details for the last observations for October, 2008, giving the locality, date seen and associated Julian date; the number of swifts counted, and notations of interest:

• Benson: 10/01; 275; 225; 9, 45, 75, 20, 67, 5 at dusk at the community center; additional others at chimney's to the west a block or two

• Creighton University Campus: 10/01; 275; 105; 105 caught at first a.m. leaving Wareham building, the former O'Keefe building on the east side of campus, in the morning at sunrise

• Creighton University Campus: 10/03; 277; 150; 150 caught at first a.m. leaving Wareham building big chimney at 1624 Webster Street; in the morning just before sunrise

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/03; 277; 235; into 6.5x6.5 bricks, ca. 4.5 story chimney at Central Presbyterian Church at 55th and Leavenworth

• Dundee Place: 10/04; 278; 12; five into Elwood apartments at 100 block of south 49th Avenue; through open circle atop metal mesh cover on the chimney

• Cathedral: 10/05; 279; 24; minimum count into the Radcliffe chimney at 38th and Dodge Street

• Blackstone District: 10/05; 279; 8; minimal count into chimney at the Colonial residence hotel, after things slowed at the Radcliffe apartment house

Chimney at 1819 Cuming Street. With the ongoing changes to this neighborhood associated with the sprawl of the Creighton campus, it is inevitable that this old, unused building will be razed.

• North Downtown: 10/06; 280; 120; caught this number departing 5x5 chimney at 1819 Cuming Street; others had possibly already departed

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/07; 281; 350; 1, 68, 280, 9; into the chimney at Central Presbyterian Church at 55th and Leavenworth; done by 7:15

• Dundee Place: 10/08; 282; 85; partial count of birds at the Glen Arlo apartment building at Capitol Avenue and 51st Street

• Creighton University Campus: 10/09; 283; 185; noted 183 leaving Wareham building chimney just before sun-rise

• Creighton University Campus: 10/10; 284; 157; minimal count of 65, 4, 88 caught leaving Wareham chimney just prior to dawn

• Benson: 10/10; 284; 132; 127 into 4.5x4.5 bricks chimney at Immanuel Lutheran Church at 2725 North 60th Avenue; 5 elsewhere in the business district

• Blackstone District: 10/11; 285; 108; 2, 14, 8, 4, 40, 37, 3 into 4.5x4.5 chimney at the Colonial hotel; also one seen into Tadousac apartment house, not included in number tally; done by 7:05 p.m. on a cloudy evening

• Creighton University Campus: 10/11; 285; 289; 106, 142, 38, 3 departing 7.5x7.5 bricks chimney of Wareham in the first of the morning

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/12; 286; 120; 2, 102, 14, 3; into the chimney at Central Presbyterian Church at 55th and Leavenworth; done by 7:15 p.m.

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/13; 287; 130; 1, 2, 1, 4, 25, 86, 8, 4; counted at most ca. 20, then about 7 p.m. the bunch arrived and were within the chimney in 10 minutes

• Old Market: 10/14; 288; 65; ca. 65 total; 3 into chimney at Barry O's pub, 4 into chimney at Upstream at 11th and Jackson, and 3-4 into Bull Durham building at 1019 Leavenworth

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/15; 289; 132; 2, 1, 3, 110, 6, 7, 3 into chimney at Central Presbyterian Church; done by 7 p.m.

• Hanscom Park neighborhood: 10/15; 289; 5; about 9:20 a.m. from buildings to the north; not seen coming from chimneys while watching for some time

• Downtown Omaha: 10/16; 290; 33 caught leaving chimney at west side; 100 south 11th Street

• Old Market: 10/16; 290; 104; 46, 31, 27 left chimney at Upstream building in the a.m.; then many returned into chimney on a morning with chilly temperatures in the mid-30s

• Blackstone District: 10/16; 290; 54; 54 into tallist 7x7 chimney at 3819 Jones street, formerly Columbian School Apartments built in the 1890s; done by ca. 6:50, with a temp of 52^o, a few minutes after sunset

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/17; 291; 136; 50, 60, 20, 6; 22 first bunch, then twice that; whole bunch gathered and flew about for a few minutes; whole bunch in within a couple of minutes.

A unique happening took place after the swifts initially entered this oft used chimney. Within a minute after all the swifts had entered the chimney, at least 80-90 were seen leaving the roost and going northward to some other nearby place ... probably the chimney of a house. The alternate chimney was not located during a quick bike-about, since the birds' destination not visible as it some time post-dusk. Obviously the swifts left the chimney since it was not suitable for the night. Perhaps the heating apparatus for the building was being used with cooler temperatures, making the confines of the brick chimney too uncomfortable.

• Benson: 10/18; 292; 25; 25-30 total; 10 into Immanuel Lutheran church on the south side; 5 into 6005 Maple Street; others in immediate vicinity; evening sunset temperature was 58^o. The roosting activity was done by about 7 p.m.

There were no subsequent sightings of swifts around the city.

End-of-Season Roost Numbers

In considering the final counts for localities where the bugeaters were known to roost, there were several hundred swifts that were present in the final days of their occurrence during the season. There were probably at least 400 at the locales that were surveyed, with an additional number of birds at other places where there are chimneys suitable for roosting (i.e., Drake neighborhood, west Old Market, near south of downtown, south Omaha business district, etc.).

Although the numbers observed are notably less than the extent of flocks present from late August to mid-September, the continued counts exceeding hundreds of swifts at a single roost site, indicates the value of various chimneys for seasonal use by migrating birds.

The birds seen using chimneys on the evening of the 18th, and their certain departure on the following date, correlates with the last known date of occurrence in the Omaha metropolitan area. Based on an evaluation of nearly 1500 records, the last date of occurrence had been October 19th, so the swifts leaving Benson would have been on the same date.

Chimney Swifts will return to the river city in mid-April next year.

Morning view of chimney at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, which has been consistently used for roosting.

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.

An Essay on the End of the Swift Season

Chimney at Mount Emerald.

By James Ed. Ducey

As a mere acolyte of swiftian studies, discoveries of their habits are due to travels by various sorts about downtown streets and alleys, historic market sections, neighborhoods of different sorts and other built environments.

An outing meant eyes to the skies to purvey the aerial coursers flashing in the ethereal realm. There has been a diverse watch as black bugeaters descend into a chosen chimney with a wide variety of architecture at business buildings, churches, schools, residences and warehouses. Only older structures are any interest since nearly all modern architecture doesn't provide a useful chimney.

A last bicycle ride of the present years' season was a survey at Mount Emerald. The dark coursers of the sunlit skies did flit and twitter in a diminutive place beneath the perfect azure of the worldly dome.

Settling residents created this place with unknown swift haunts on a higher elevation in the salt basin. Habitats for many generations of swift clans are subtly decorative and splendid places where each generation has its fragile yet distinct origins.

The Mount, and adjacent Hillsdale, are a housing jumble on the stolid ground. Structures of various sorts dominate among the concrete grid of streets Great arboreal splendors provide insect swarming from hidden beginnings, their fate to provide a steady source of sustenance for the bug eating birds awing on the constant and unseen air currents of urbane skies.

Near the top of Mount Emerald, a great chimney to mark the place for celebratory gatherings. It is brick and stone solid, and finely decorated with symbolic effigies. The great eagle of the skies is a most dramatic aspect. Common pigeons watch the place, and sit about its crest.

Smaller brick abodes of the local homes had provided a number of shelters for a dedicated pair of nesters. The variety of chimneys offer a bunch of distinct features best known from the aerial, bird's-eye view. The swifts nurture another generation during the endless cycle of seasons.

Ignorant heathens readily exclude with screen or other covers, entry of the little black birds into suitable haunts, limiting the number of pairs that could get together in the magical bonding of their ongoing nature.

Suitable respect to the benefits and glory of the daily swift antics is extended in just a limited and unknowing manner. One sturdy stone turret lets the common folk watch - with a cool glass of lemonade - the movements of the birds above eating bugs of several sorts pesky to the people below. The residents don't express any means of deserved appreciation.

Bell tower at Mount Emerald. All photos by the author.

Majestic in design and stature, a solid bell tower marked with symbols, musically joins with the great antics of aerial flight. Tolling in the winds of the saline flats, the chimes convey the swifts way each day as they go about their tasks.

Bugs hovering over the tree lofts are easily the usual meal readily captured. Another gets taken. Then another insect is gone, a thousand times each day for the first, real bugeaters of this community.

Seasons of the swift are regular and consistent. Eggs appear in a fragile stick nest. Nourished young take flight to course through air currents in a learned mastery of the flight essential as flocks gather when warmer weeks wane.

In a season's finale on a muggy eve of early October, a lesser bunch of swifts gather together. With the sun gone away in the west, the small flock of migratory birds flit through the treetops. Which single chimney will demark a 2007 finale and provide a warm, shared shelter for a long night.

No obvious spot is shown by elegant swoops and swirls from the last of the swifts. No place is easily apparent as when many hundreds of birds use the father of all chimneys elsewhere in the star city. There was no great bunch giving a phantasmagoric display about the large entry to a expansive chimney - perhaps the mother of all chimneys - as found in the river city along the Missouri.

Around the blocks went the survey cycle. No roost was obvious as dusk darkened the scene. Then a few swifts were heard as they circled about a leafy tree and small chimney covered with peeling white paint. Each little black bird there quietly dropped into the nights spot. Their numbers were counted as they gathered in the home's warm shelter. Then all was quiet on Mount Emerald.

As the chills of the night spread, there are fewer edible insects. In a few shorter days, the little black swifts depart on the expected retreat to warmer, southerly spaces.

The swift cycle will begin again next spring, after a few harsh months, when there are no masters of the skies about. Without the flitting twitter of the aerial acrobats, it is a lesser time for enthusiasts of the grandeur of the Chimney Swift, wherever it may happen.

Swift skies as seen from the heights of Carriage Park, Lincoln.