Nature London Chimney Swift Monitoring Program – Report #3 May 26, 2024
Based on the past two years of data, the number of swifts dropped about as expected.
Observations Submitted by the Monitors
Observations for 05/26. Sunset 08:52. Total in 523
These values are the consensus of the monitors: Temp 20. Wind 6. Precip none. Cloud Cover 10
| CHIMNEY | OBSERVER(S) | NET IN | INS & OUTS | OBSERVATIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colborne | solo observation with Glenn Berry and Lois Ward observing second chimney | 1 | 8:46 = 1 in | Max in air: 5. Started early due to overcast sky and threat of rain. Swifts chittering and flying high from the outset. Some solo birds and sometime 2 flying/chasing, occasionally joined by third swift. Group of 4 in formation seen twice. Most activity had ended by 8:37 p.m. after which only occasional swifts seen. Entry to chimney was a silent, slow tumble. The wind picked up and the sky darkened around 9:00 p.m. and observation ended early. House Finch and American Robins heard. Other birds quickly flying through. |
| Dundas | Glenn Berry and Lois Ward | 3 | 8:36 2 in, 8:43 1 in | Max in air: 8. A pair flew nearby for several minutes. There may have been a trio as well. |
| Elborn College | Caitlin Daley, Mark Daley | 19 | 8:43 9 in 8:44 6 in, 1 out 8:45 1 in 8:46 2 in 8:47 1 in 8:49 1 in 8:51 2 out 8:53 1 in 8:55 1 in | Max in air: 25. Very large group of swifts flew overhead, 25 is an estimate but there were most likely more. |
| FSA North | Karin de Vries, Elizabeth Pattison | 0 | Max in air: 5. Pretty quiet with approaching storm | |
| FSA South | Karin de Vries, Elizabeth Pattison | 5 | 8:45 – 1 in 8:46 – 2 in 8:49 – 1 out, 1 in 8:54 – 1 in | Max in air: 5. Quiet evening, with all birds being in just after sunset. Approaching storm probably sent them in early. Other species seen: EUST, MODO, AMRO, COHA (which made things quiet for a few minutes!) |
| FSA NE | Elizabeth Pattison, Paul Thomas, Karin DeVries | 0 | 0 | Max in air: 5. very few swifts, one Cooper’s Hawk flew by |
| FSA SE | Elizabeth Pattison, Paul Thomas, Karin DeVries | 1 | 8:29 1 in | Max in air: 5. Very few swifts, one Cooper’s Hawk seen |
| Hunt | Ann MacPhail, Grace Edwards, Jayne Twynham | 110 | 8:32 1 in 8:33 1 in 8:34 2 in 8:35 1 in 8:42 1 in 8:44 1 in 8:46 2 in 8:47 28 in 8:48 14 in 8:49 19 in 8:50 12 in 8:51 7 in 8:52 11 in 8:55 2 in 8:56 2 in 8:57 3 in 9:00 1 in 9:01 1 in 9:05 1 in | Max in air: 30. 8:25 5 swifts flying 8:13 13 swifts flying 8:36 19 swifts flying 8:41 30 swifts flying 8:23 possible Peregrine Falcon flew overhead temperature at end of watch 9:22 pm was 19 C; windier at end of swift watch heavy rain began 9:35 pm just after swift watch completed |
| Huron College | Ron Martin, Ruth Dickau | 128 | 8:33 2 , 8:35 2, 8:36 9 8:37 34,, 8:38 2, 8:40 4 8:41 3, 8:42 2, 8:43 6, 8:44 5, 8:45 31, 8:46 4 8:50 9, 8:51 4, 8:53 2 8:56 6, 8:58 2. 9:01 1 | Max in air: 30. No exits |
| ICORR | Kathy Ludanyi, Marguerite Annen | 0 | None | Max in air: 2. Swifts were heard at 8:15 over the parking lot and 2 were seen in the air but did not go into the chimney that we could see. |
| King’s College | Sandy Symmes, Ric Symmes | 49 | 8:21 1 in 8:23 1 in 8:23 1 out 8:36 1 in 8:37 4 in 8:40 6 in 8:40 2 out 8:41 11 in 8:42 2 in 8:43 6 in 8:44 1 in 8:45 9 in 8:46 10 in | Max in air: 10. Early in the session there were up to 4 barn swallows swooping about. We also saw 1 bat, 2 ducks and 6 Canada Geese overhead. |
| Kingsway North | Winifred Wake, David Wake | 2 | 8:30=1 in, direct drop from a line of 4 swifts that few over chim; 8:34=1 out, flew low to N, vocalizing; 8:37=2 in, direct drops as 2 others flew off | Max in air: 5. 8:14-8:40=chatter regularly heard, 1-5 swifts aloft, usually over bldg or to N. Often 2 swifts together. 8:18=2 swifts briefly bumped together. 8:23 =DW saw group of 5 swifts, including 2 that maintained body contact for a few secs, with one bird on top & towards rear of other; encounter was distinctly longer than that usually seen when 2 swifts bump. 8:18=1 starling briefly sat on rim of chim. Last swift heard or seen (single silent bird) 11 mins before sunset. 8:20=1 nighthawk called twice to W. 8:28=breeze rising. Sky very dark. Rain began 5 mins after watch ended. Additional species: Common Grackle, Canada Goose, American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Grey Squirrel. 2 people passed by walking a dog. |
| Kingsway South | Winifred Wake, David Wake | 2 | 8:31= 2 in, after flying very close to N chim (which 1 bird had just entered) | Max in air: 5. 8:14-8:40=chatter regularly heard, 1-5 swifts aloft, usually over bldg or to N. Often 2 swifts together. 8:18=2 swifts briefly bumped together. 8:23 =DW saw group of 5 swifts, including 2 that maintained body contact for a few secs, with one bird on top & towards rear of other; encounter was distinctly longer than that usually seen when 2 swifts bump. At 8:32, just after 1 swift had entered N chim & 2 entered S chim, 4 swifts were aloft, indicating at least 7 birds were in area. Last swift heard or seen (single silent bird) 11 mins before sunset. 8:20=1 nighthawk called twice to W. 8:28=breeze rising. Sky very dark. Rain began 5 mins after watch ended. Additional species: Common Grackle, Canada Goose, American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Grey Squirrel. 2 people passed by walking a dog. |
| Labatt | Barb Yeo & Rick Hayman | 0 | none | Max in air: 3. Saw 3 swifts flying over the buildings as soon as we got settled for the watch. Then they left and were not seen again. |
| Old North | Sandra Grant. Shelagh Grant | 2 | 8:37. 2 in | Max in air: 2. Wind picked up over our stay |
| Phoenix | Leslie Rockwell, Glen Winegarden | 11 | 8:26 2 out, 2 in. 8:35 1 out. 8:41 1 in. 8:44 3 out. 8:46 2 in. 8:47 10 in. 8:56 2 in. | Max in air: 12. Very quiet people-wise for the downtown area. Impending wet weather may have been the factor at play. Nearby House Sparrows heard. |
| Smith Fruit | Heidi & Garry Williams | 183 | 1 in 8:19 1 in 8:21 1 in 8:33 1 in 8:37 3 in 8:40 1 in 8:44 13 in 8:46 47 in 8:47 1 in 8:48 2 in 8:49 3 in 8:54 46 in 8:55 44 in 8:56 9 in 8:57 3 in 8:58 2 in 9:00 1 in 9:01 1 in 9:02 1 in 9:04 2 in 9:06 46 in 8:55 | Max in air: 7. The wind was gusty, and made it feel much cooler than 21° which was our starting temperature. Fortunately, it didn’t begin raining until we were starting to drive home. When I say 7 swifts in the air at once, it means before any swifts went down into the chimney. But my husband says he saw about 60 or 70 swifts in the sky, but he means at the high point when many swifts are about to go down in large numbers. |
| South Collegiate | Steve Jarrett and Theresa Morrissey | 7 | 8:35=1 in; 8:37=1 in; 8:38= 3 in; 8:46=2in. | Max in air: 4. Observed 4 swifts flying overhead when we first arrived and continued to hear and see them intermittently while we were there. |