Bird Studies Canada is excited to announce the launch of a new program: Ontario SwiftWatch. Chimney Swifts, like many other aerial insectivores in North America, are experiencing strong population declines across their range. The Canadian Chimney Swift population has decreased 96% over the past 40 years, leading to their COSEWIC designation as a federally Threatened species. Through funding provided by the Canadian Wildlife Service’s Habitat Stewardship Program, Ontario SwiftWatch has been developed as a province-wide initiative to expand and standardize volunteer-based monitoring practices that are already underway in a number of cities, including Peterborough, Guelph, and London, so that we might understand the causes of these population declines and work toward conserving this species. Chimney Swifts provide an exciting opportunity for city-based individuals to participate in important conservation work, as they are most often found nesting and roosting in urban chimneys.
Have you noticed Chimney Swifts in your area? We are looking for volunteer Chimney Swift monitors in cities all across Ontario. For more information, or to become a volunteer, please contact Elisabeth van Stam (1-888-448-2473 ext.173,
evanstam@birdscanada.org) or Hazel Wheeler
(1-888-448-2473 ext. 165,
hwheeler@birdscanada.org).