Aerial insectivores – swallows, nighthawks, martins, flycatchers, and swifts – are showing some of the greatest population declines among birds, and it’s unclear exactly why. Chimney swifts, whose populations have declined by 52% in PA over the last 60 years, serve as a “canary in the coal mine” for this suite of species. This presentation will cover their life histories, theories surrounding the reasons for decline and what you can do about it, as well as recent collaborative work among researchers seeking both to create habitat for swifts and to identify the drivers of population change. This is an introduction to Chimney Swifts before the Chimney Swift Watch on September 14th. This is a joint presentation with Wissahickon Trails, Wyncote Audubon Society, and the Pennypack Ecological Restoration Trust.
