Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Rebecca TO Swift on April 13, 2013, 04:40:55 PM

Title: Chimney Swifts and SwiftWatch
Post by: Rebecca TO Swift on April 13, 2013, 04:40:55 PM

Find out about Chimney Swifts and Toronto SwiftWatch on Wednesday, April 17th, 7 pm at 252 Bloor Street West (OISE by the St George subway). We're looking for volunteers to identify roost and nest sites and help monitor this threatened species. This is a program of Bird Studies Canada and just takes the occasional hour around sundown, right here in the city. Let me know if you can make it!

(http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/1922/torontochswkickoff2013p.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/14/torontochswkickoff2013p.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Title: Re: Chimney Swifts and SwiftWatch
Post by: Rebecca TO Swift on April 23, 2013, 01:06:48 PM

First Chimney Swifts of the season have been seen at Tommy Thompson Park! :D  Where else are people seeing them?

Title: Re: Chimney Swifts and SwiftWatch
Post by: Reuven_M on April 23, 2013, 10:02:45 PM

I had one in downtown Guelph on Friday and 2 at Marie Curtis Park today, all 3 feeding with flocks of swallows.

Title: Re: Chimney Swifts and SwiftWatch
Post by: Rob'in'To on April 24, 2013, 08:54:57 AM

We get Chimney Swifts flying over our backyard daily every summer but have yet to discover where they roost (we are just south of Lambton Woods).  No sign of them yet this year but they are coming.

Title: Re: Chimney Swifts and SwiftWatch
Post by: Rebecca TO Swift on April 24, 2013, 10:17:23 AM

I envy you having swifts over your yard! I've seen them around the Humber River too. We know of some chimneys in use in that area in the summer breeding season, but not very many... and we know nothing about where they roost at this end of the city in the spring.

Title: Re: Chimney Swifts and SwiftWatch
Post by: Rebecca TO Swift on April 24, 2013, 10:32:34 AM

That's interesting Reuven. I think I saw some in a group of swallows by the lake yesterday too, but not 100% sure.

Title: Re: Chimney Swifts and SwiftWatch
Post by: Bluffs Birder on April 24, 2013, 03:27:59 PM

I too get Chimney Swifts over the yard/neighbourhood each season but like Rob'in'To have never figured out were they roost.  I'm in the Kingston Rd & Midland Ave area of Scarborough.  Also each year many Swifts are seen flying in the Kingston Rd & Brimley Rd area.

Walter :)

Title: Re: Chimney Swifts and SwiftWatch
Post by: Rob'in'To on April 24, 2013, 03:57:40 PM

I'd be interested in knowing of a roost in our area (Etobicoke).  I see a big chimney at Etobicoke Collegiate, Islington and Dundas area; and a chimney north/east of Scarlett and Eglinton which very close to us.  We'd be happy to go out monitor it some evenings and try to count the birds.  

We helped with the old school in Cambridge one eve last August and had 417.

Title: Re: Chimney Swifts and SwiftWatch
Post by: Rebecca TO Swift on April 24, 2013, 05:04:06 PM

Excellent Rob'in'TO! send me an email and I'll set you up: rebecca.torontoswifts@gmail.com.
You too Walter? Thanks for the great tips