Chimney Swift Article by AP student Marie Sato

If you drive by Linworth Alternative Program’s building often, you might have noticed one of the tall structures outside of the building. These structures are actually chimney swift towers. Every spring, the chimney swifts, like other migrating birds, return north after a warm winter in the south. This particular species is native to central Ohio. If you’ve spent lots of time in the spring at the AP, like science teacher Carol Landis, you may have noticed a flock of birds circling the chimney of the building. These appropriately named birds like to nest in tall structures, like chimneys. This can cause problems for the owners of the chimney, however, so Carol decided to start a project to find a more suitable place for these birds to nest. Earlier this year, under the supervision of parent volunteers Tim Londergan and Mikel Coulter, students of the AP, like freshman Ian Coulter, junior Marie Sato, and senior Ryo Sato, helped build three chimney swift towers with all the specifications the birds would need. This work was not easy. It included pouring cement, placing poles, having the structure built in pieces and then brought to the site, as well as actually erecting the small towers. This proved to be difficult and required adjusting the structures so they were only eight feet tall rather than the planned twelve.

Some have wondered why these people did so much hard work for these little birds. These little birds have suffered from one of the downfalls of industrialization. Whereas they once nested in large, hollow trees, they now rely on man-made structures due to the loss of forests caused by our ever-growing industrial and urban sprawl. Not only should we be sympathetic to what our society has done to their natural habitat, but we should also realize that they are extremely helpful to us in warmer weather. These birds feed on insects, and eat about one-third of their body weight, per day, of flying pests such as mosquitoes and biting flies. These birds are losing their battle with urbanization, causing their population to decline. Both State Wildlife Codes and Federal law currently protect chimney swifts. Building these towers was something that these community members could do to help the environment right here in our backyard.

Carol’s students will become volunteer research associates with the North American Chimney Swift Nest Site Research Project, carried out by the Driftwood Wildlife Association, in Texas. For this project, she will monitor the birds over the years and hopes to get assistance to band the birds, to help with further research about this population of swifts.

The environmentally conscious students, staff, and parents donated their time and resources not only for the benefit of the birds, but also to help raise awareness about their plight. The towers can be useful educational tools for the rest of the community, as well. One of the three towers is located in the front yard, east of the building, where groups of individuals (scout troops, primary grade classes, and others) can observe the birds’ activity and read posted information. This will be available to anyone who wishes to learn more about our swifts and how to be a “swift friend.”