In the first part of the 20th century, architects inadvertently created a multitude of Chimney Swift habitats.  Air shafts in multi-storied urban buildings provided structures which aided Chimney Swifts in their range expansion westward across North America.  So common were these air shafts that in places such as Kent State University, researchers like Dr. Ralph Dexter were able to spend their entire lives researching the nesting and roosting behavior of Chimney Swifts.
    With the advent of central air conditioning, air shafts are no longer an integral part of building construction.  However, there are many "architectural features" currently used in modern construction that could (with minor modifications) be made accessible  and very useful to Chimney Swifts.
     As the population of our urban avian insectivores decreases, we look to modern architects to consider the needs of wildlife in their designs.

Paul Kyle, Editor

    In August 2000, Boy Scout Michael Doolin from Troop 346 constructed a Chimney Swift tower for his Eagle Scout project. The tower was constructed next to the hummingbird/butterfly garden behind the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Big Branch Marsh NWR visitor center in Lacombe, LA. The tower was built over 2 Saturdays with help from about 20 Boy Scouts and 3 adults. It stands about 15-feet-high.
    Michael slightly modified plans created by Paul and Georgean Kyle in 1997. All wood was cut prior to the workdays. All wood was stained, the site was prepped and the angle iron legs were set on the first workday. The concrete was delivered between workdays. On the

second work day the 3 sections were constructed and installed, insulation was put in place, and a small roof was added. Additionally, a door was created near the bottom for viewing by visitors. A handheld mirror will be used to view the inside of the tower. The door can be locked during the breeding season.
All materials for the project were donated by a variety of groups including Home Depot, Capital Steel, the Northshore Bird Club, the Covington Bird Club, Pontchartrain Hardware, and LaFarge Concrete. The total project cost was about $300.
    This project works well with the theme of the visitor center, which is creating backyard habitat for wildlife. The garden that is adjacent to the tower was installed in 1999 and houses only plants native to Louisiana. The visitor center itself is an old house that has two chimneys that are known to be used as Chimney Swift roost sites. We do not know if any birds have nested there. If this new tower is successful we will most likely install a second tower in the future.

Virginia Rettig

Virginia Rettig is the Refuge Operations Specialist for the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge near Slidell, Louisiana.  This is the first Chimney Swift Tower to be built in a National Wildlife Refuge.

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