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Maine Audubon
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MERRYMEETING
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Chimney Swift in Flight The Chimney Swift is a small bird only 5-6 inches in length with a wing span of 11-12 inches. They weight about an ounce or slightly less. Wintering in the Amazon Basin of South America, Chimney swifts return to breeding sites in the US and southern Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. For more information about Chimney Swifts, to to All About Birds. |
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Migration Roosts Large numbers of swifts roost together in a single large chimney or air shaft during migration and in the non-breeding season. This roost is in the Chaetura Canyon in Texas. The advent of modern chimneys with smooth interiors have reduced the number of available roosting sites. |
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Swift Smoke When swifts approach a roosting site, they first swirl in the air and then descend in what had been described as "reverse smoke."
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Nesting Towers Maine Audubon recently added a Chimney Swift Nesting Tower at Gilsland Farm. Built and donated by Andre Bellucci, the tower was shingled and installed by Maine Audubon staff and volunteers in April. Photo left. Before European colonization, Chimney Swifts likely nested in hollow trees and caves. With deforestation and settlement, swifts adapted to nesting in brick chimneys. Modern chimney construction results in smooth interiors which are not useable by swifts as nest sites and may have contributed to this species' rapid decline. Projects such as Maine Audubon's seek to restore some of that nesting habitat. |
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