Chimney Swifts return to sunny Manitoba!

We have finally received our first report of chimney swifts in Manitoba!

Barb Stewart reports that two swifts were seen foraging for food on Mother's Day near the Catholic Church/cemetery in Saint Adolphe. They weren't seen entering the nearby chimney, though.

I have some unsuccessful monitoring reports from Carman and Winnipeg, but we should have some favourable results soon!

Now that the weather is (hopefully) warming up,you might want to check "your" local site during the roost hour to see if swifts have returned.

Remember that monitoring forms and guidelines are available in the "resources" area of our website at http://www.mbchimneyswift.ca/resources.html

Should you have any questions or concerns about the 2013 monitoring season, please email or give me a call at 204-798-6275. If you would like to monitor a site of your own, please get in touch!

Our first nationally-coordinated monitoring date is coming up on Wednesday, May 22.

A New Tower goes up in southern Manitoba!

David Dawson has designed and erected another unique "artificial tree" for chimney swifts. The tower has been erected in the vicinity of La Broquerie.

 The tower is about 14 feet tall and is located about 1.4 kilometers from a known active chimney swift nest site.

Time will tell if the swifts take to their new home!

Join us for a swift night out

Monday, June 3 in Saint Adolphe
 (rain date June 10)

Meet at 8:00 pm in the parking lot
 of the Catholic Church



There are five active chimneys in the area, and there is an artificial nesting tower, too. There should be lots of activity as swifts search for insects and drop into nests in the area.

Saint Adolphe is 25 km south of Winnipeg on Hwy 200 (St Mary's Road)

DOOR PRIZES -REFRESHMENTS-A NICE TRIP-WILDLIFE VIEWING

for more information, call 204-798-6275

They're back (well they're coming !)

Now that Spring is here, our thoughts turn to our favourite aerial insectivores. It shouldn't be too long before the chimney swifts return to Friendly Manitoba from southern climes.

The Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative is planning for the 2013 monitoring season, and we're looking for new and returning volunteers!

This year, in accord with a developing national strategy for chimney swift program, we encourage monitors to check their sites during the roost hour on four specific nights: May 22, May 26, May 30, and June 3.
 We certainly encourage more frequent viewing, but we'd like to have data to share with the national initiative.

Look for forms and monitoring guidelines (including the new national four day protocol and much much more) at http://www.mbchimneyswift.ca/resources.html

Watch this blog for periodic updates once the swifts are back.

If you would like to view the presentations given at a recent national  chimney swift conference, check http://www.mbchimneyswift.ca/links_papers.html

For more information about the project or to ask about potential sites for monitoring, please feel free to give me a call at 204-798-6275.

Watch the skies but don't over stress those necks!

Frank Machovec

News flash!

The Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative has just been informed that we received a grant from the Manitoba Endangered Species and Biodiversity Fund.

The grant is intended to support activities undertaken during the 2012 -2013 fiscal year. These activities include the monitoring of nest and roost sites, liaison with other swift monitoring programs, and outreach activities.