These birds eat up to 12,000 mosquitoes, termites, flies and other insects each day! Since 1970, swift populations have declined 65% – a loss of 19 million birds. No wonder people have to stock up on bug repellent.
Their unique foot structure makes it impossible for them to stand or perch. So they fly – covering up to 500 miles a day – eating and drinking on the fly. When they do stop in the evenings to roost, they must find a protected structure – one where they can cling to walls. Traditionally, that was hollowed out trees. Today, that means chimneys and human interactions.
The chimney swift is a federally protected species. The Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership has developed The Chimney Swift Recovery Goal to arrest or reverse the decline of swifts in Maryland, with the following objectives:
- Assess the population – distribution, abundance, trends and threats
- Identify, protect, and restore nesting habitats
- Increase the availability of nest sites
- Public awareness
Join Chris Eberly, Executive Director of the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership to learn more about this fascinating bird and how you can get involved in their recovery including opportunities to Chimney Swift Watch in and around the neighborhoods bordering the NHSM in Overlea, Maryland.
