Downsview, Chimney Swifts

[Napper]

Today at Lunch I spotted 4 Chimney Swifts chattering away above me
on their way over into Downsview Park.
First of the year for me

Napper

[Flyingbass]

Today I saw the biggest flock of the year.  They are hard to count but I estimate it was between 18 and 22 Chimney Swifts.  I'm going to upload my count to www.ebird.org Always a good idea to report chimney swift sightings, their populations have seen a lot of decline over the last 40 years.  There is a "birding hotspot" for Downsview so everyone can report Downsview Park sightings to the same location!

I also so:

Horned Larks
Barn Swallows
Tree Swallows
Killdeer (with babies)
Brown headed cowbirds
RWBB
Kestrel
Red tail

[Rebecca TO Swift]

Yes please do report chimney swift sightings to ebird! Toronto SwiftWatch checks it regularly to see where swifts are being seen. Most of the large groups have been near the lake up until now so it's really interesting that the numbers are growing in Downsview this week. Do you know of areas with good chimneys near the park? We need to document chimney use so it's really helpful if you can try and figure out where they're roosting at sunset    If you see swifts enter a chimney, please report it here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OntarioSwiftwatch

[Napper]

I suspect they are roosting
at the Manufacturing facility adjacent the park
There are many, many exhaust ducts and metal chimneys

Napper

[Rebecca TO Swift]

Interesting! However they need a rough surface to cling to and generally prefer large, unlined brick chimneys. Older brick apartments and stores, schools and churches often have good candidate chimneys. Older industrial buildings sometimes do too but the swifts won't use them if they're in use through the summer.