This one is for the #swifties! Chimney swifts are a fascinating - but declining - bird species right here in Minnesota. These aerial acrobats spend almost all their time on the wing, hunting insects. Listen for their twittering chatter as they zip across the summer sky, and look for small, dark gray "flying cigars" - a nickname earned from their unique silhouette! They sometimes are confused for bats, but you can tell the difference by looking for the swift’s long, pointed wings. 

Because chimney swifts cannot perch on branches, they rely on their velcro-like claws to cling to rough, vertical surfaces for roosting and nesting. Historically, this was accomplished with the help of massive hollow trees and caves before brick chimneys came along. Now, as chimneys fall out of use or are capped, these birds are losing critical roosting and nesting habitat.

Chimney swift towers - artificial structures which mimic a chimney - provide a crucial lifeline. Our chapter’s tower, near the playground, was built by scouts about 15 years ago, but sat quiet - until the summer of 2024! Swifts finally moved in, using it for nesting (they snap twigs mid-flight and glue them together against the wall in the structure with their sticky saliva) and roosting.

In late summer, swifts gather in massive groups to roost before their long migration to South America. Recently, our caretakers and members have spotted about a dozen swifts diving into the chapter tower at dusk to spend the night. Watching them drop out of the sky into the tower is an incredible sight! If you can’t make it to the chapter at sunset, consider joining a local "Chimney Swift Sit" to catch the show.

Written by Bush Lake Ike and birding extraordinaire, Steph MacPhail