How long do chimney swifts stay

The young are able to climb, and they exhibit preening behavior even before their feathers emerge. By 15 to 17 days of age, their eyes begin to open. Soon, most of the flight and body feathers will be unfurled, but the feathers around the face and head will stay in sheath for several days, giving the birds a frosty-faced appearance.

By the time chimney swifts are 21 days old, they will cling tightly to the nest or chimney wall, rear back, and flap their wings furiously until they are panting and out of breath. At 28 to 30 days after hatching, young swifts will leave the safety of their chimney nests for their first flight. Once an entire brood has fledged, they will fly with their parents in slow, noisy parades around the area of the nest site in search of food.

The young will return frequently to the roost during the first few days, but will soon begin to visit other roosts in the area. They congregate in flocks of hundreds and even thousands at suitable roost sites. Although chimney swifts can withstand a few early cool snaps, they will usually ride south on the first major cloud front that blows through in the fall. These nests are highly flammable and can cause chimney fires if not removed.

Fallen Nest: Chimney Swift saliva is very good at holding nests together, but sometimes becomes unglued after heavy rains or if the chimney is very dirty. There are a wide variety of chimney and fireplace structures and designs, so there is no one solution in every instance of a fallen nest.

Replacing the nest may require considerable innovation, and in some cases may not actually be possible. There are several options worth exploring, however, before you call a permitted wildlife rehabilitator.

Option 1. Place the nest and uninjured nestlings in a shallow wicker basket and place it on the smoke shelf just above the damper. The basket must be either weighted or wedged in such a way that it does not tip over when the parents land on it to feed their young. Option 2. Place the nest and uninjured birds in a shallow wicker basket that is secured to a rope; lower it into the chimney from above.

Make sure rope is secure at both ends. Option 3. Tape the nest or replacement nest to a broom and wedge the broom up and into a corner of the chimney above the damper.

Capped chimney: Re-nesting ideas:. Remember, in each attempt, the nest needs to be at about the same height where the parents initially built it. Do not feed the babies before placing back in the chimney; swifts are very difficult to safely feed, and a hungry bird will make noise and quickly draw the attention of the parents!

If the nest is down a long time and it is very hot and humid, you can take the babies to a permitted wildlife rehabilitator for fluids before making a re-nesting attempt. Single Bird Found in the Fireplace: Single babies with few or no feathers should be taken to a permitted rehabilitator.

Adults: Adult swifts have very long wings; when the bird is at rest, their wings cross over their tail. Adults are usually silent, as opposed to their more vocal juvenile counterparts. If you find an adult swift in the fireplace, simply capture it and release it outside. Swifts have difficulty taking off from the ground, so a small toss in the air may be helpful. Young swifts will typically chatter when approached — raising an alarm call or making the food-begging call.

As long as the bird is healthy and can grip with its feet, it can be returned to the chimney, similar to how nests should be returned to the chimney. Depending on the bird and the chimney style, use a broom, box, basket, or lower a rope from the top of the chimney. After any young Chimney Swift is returned to a chimney, continue to monitor that the reunion has worked. Ask your chimney sweep to come back in the fall if swifts are in occupancy earlier in the season. Professional sweeps should know that swifts are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act , and anyone who knowingly destroys birds or nests that might contain eggs or young can be fined or penalized.

Finally, chimneys lined with metal should always be capped, as birds that enter these can easily become trapped. Anyone interested in swifts and seeking more information about swifts can contact the Driftwood Wildlife Association at West 38th, Suite, Austin, TX , chimneyswifts. It also provides building plans for the swift houses mentioned above.

What to do about chimney swifts. Extraordinary insect-eaters spending most of their time in the air only to come down to roost or feed their young.

Adapted from the book, Wild Neighbors.