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The Chimney Swifts of Sussex

A spectacular spring-time phenomenon, that mainly occurs between mid-May and early June, is the communal roosting of flocks of migrating chimney swifts in the large abandoned chimney of the OLD MERCANTILE BUILDING. On evenings when weather permits, the migrating flock congregates above the chimney and circles around and around like a hugh revolving "doughnut", with all the birds flying in the same direction. Local resident Tom Anderson recalls watching the swifts as far back as 1937.

This process usually starts an hour before sunset, with the greatest activity occurring between 8:30 and 9 pm. As dusk approaches, small groups of birds start dropping into the chimney. This is followed by the main flock, which from afar creates the illusion of smoke curling back down into the chimney.

Once inside, the birds cling to the brick walls using their strong sharp claws. The short stiff spine-tipped tail feathers help prop the birds up in a vertical position with their bodies often overlapping like shingles.

Although most of the swifts disperse to nest, some birds will build their nests in the chimney. Other acceptable nesting sites include hollow trees, barns, old buildings, silos, open wells, cisterns, air shafts, crevices in rock cliffs, and other dark sheltered places.

There has been a marked decline in chimney swift populations in the past 30 years possibly related to forest spraying with insecticides, a shortage of old hollow trees due to intensive forest management, the destruction of old buildings and their chimneys and a switch to electric heat. During migration and nesting, food shortages due to inclement weather, the building of fires in fireplaces, the venting of fumes, noxious gases and smoke from chimneys also take their toll.

The nest is a shallow bracket-like cup constructed of twigs that have been cemented together with a glutinous saliva. Four or five eggs are laid in late-June early July and both parents share in the incubation duties which last 19 to 21 days. The young birds fly when 30 days old.

The Chimney Swift has long pointed wings and a streamlined shape that make it well suited for life on the wing and long distance migration. They spend the winter months in western Peru, northern Chile, and the upper part of the Amazon River basin in South America. The summer range extends from eastern Saskatchewan and the Maritimes to Texas and Florida

Swifts spend more time in the air than virtually any other land bird, gathering their food, drinking, collecting nest materials, courting etc. while in flight. They are virtually never seen resting on branches or wires. They have been clocked at level flight speeds of up to 34 km/hour. During it's life span the swift may fly close to one million kilometres!