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Town of Erin Species at Risk Chimney Swift

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Town of Erin Species at Risk Chimney Swift Tow n of Erin Species at Habitat: Before European settlement of What can you do ? If possible, keep your North America, chimney swifts nested old brick chimney; don’t have your Risk – Chimney Swift primarily in large hollow trees. chimney cleaned in nesting season (mid- However with the decline of old forest May to mid-August). If possible keep habitats over much of their range, your chimney free of obstructions and swifts showed their adaptability and avoid the use grills or caps. Keep any old became urban creatures – relying on trees with hollow trunks on your property chimneys as nesting habitat. Chimney if it is safe to do so. Eliminate or reduce swift flocks can be heard making high- your use of insecticides to an absolute pitched chipping or twittering noises as minimum. they fly above the rooftops older neighbourhoods in Erin during the Bird Studies Canada (BSC) is a non- summer. government organization dedicated to Threats: Several factors have conserving wild birds of Canada. One of combined to cause swift populations BSC’s citizen science projects is the Chimney swifts are often described as to plummet more than 90% in the monitoring of chimney swifts and other ‘cigars with wings’. Their twittering last three decades. Throughout aerial insectivores through its ‘Swift calls give them away as they fly over North America there has been a Watch’ Program. Volunteers conduct older parts of cities and towns. wide-spread decline in insect surveys of swifts and gather information populations, likely caused by to help understand how swifts are faring Description: Chimney swifts look a changing agricultural practices and and what is behind their population bit like swallows, but their swept- widespread use of insecticides; declines . back wings and lack of a forked tail construction practices have reduced sets them apart. They are not the the number of suitable chimneys for Check out BSC’s web site on swifts and most colourful of birds – plain sooty swifts to nest in, and land swallows to learn more and see if you are interested in becoming a volunteer. olive or sooty brown, but their fast, management throughout swifts’ agile flight with rapid wing beats are wintering range in South America has http://www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/ai/in distinctive. The Chimney swift become much more intensive. dex.jsp?lang=EN spends most of its time flying and even forages in the air, catching its Status: The chimney swift is currently prey (flying insects) in flight. listed as Threatened under the Ontario Endangered Species Act. SARs in the Town of Erin What is ESAC? Chimney Swift Birds ESAC is the Environment and Barn Swallow Sustainability Advisory Committee of Species at Risk Chimney Swift Council for the Town of Erin. Our Common Nighthawk mission is to provide sound Mammals environmental advice to our Council, Little Brown Bat develop partnerships with Small-footed Bat neighbours, businesses and the Northern Long-eared Bat community, communicate important Reptiles and Amphibians environmental issues, and help make Erin a sustainable, climate- Jefferson Salamander change-ready, and environmentally Milk Snake progressive community. Did you know that here in the Town of Erin there are many species at risk (SAR)? They are not the “stars” of the natural world, but are populations of grassland, woodland and wetland creatures that were once plentiful but are now threatened by habitat loss and other factors. How can we help? First, Flora get to know what these threatened Butternut species are, then learn what actions American Chestnut might help them flourish again. For more about ESAC or to join Ginseng ESAC contact : Insects Town of Erin: www.erin.ca Rusty-patched Bumblebee Or Liz Armstrong at [email protected] 0r (519) 833-4676 .
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