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Dedication of nesting tower for Chimney Swifts
June 28, 2021 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Free
On Monday, June 28th, at 3 pm in Kinder Farm Park, the Anne Arundel Bird Club will be dedicating a nesting tower for Chimney Swifts. The population of these birds has been in serious decline. In addition to the common threats from climate change, pollution, loss of habitat and other hazards, Swift are suffering from an additional serious problem. The chimneys in which they have become accustomed to nesting are now frequently made inaccessible by capping. Also, the Swifts are often unable to build their nests on flues whose surfaces are too smooth. The recently completed nesting tower shown in the accompanying photo is an amenable solution. It is lined with grooved plywood to which the Swifts can use their saliva to glue twigs into their traditional crescent-shaped nests.
The tower is the first such structure in Anne Arundel County and is awaiting the first pair of Swifts to make it their home. The tower was built by volunteers in the Park’s Wood Shop. The construction materials and didactic signs were purchased with donations to the Anne Arundel Bird Club as the first effort in a long-term program to create similar nesting towers throughout the County parks. The program has the enthusiastic support of Bill Offutt, Chief of Park Operations for the County and Brad Hunt, Kinder Farm Park Superintendent. The tower is located near the Park’s Perimeter Trail. On the kiosk surrounding the tower are signs obtained from Audubon Societies with interesting facts about these intriguing birds and explaining why the tower could help arrest their decline. A surveillance camera is being installed inside the tower so that the birds and their chicks can be viewed on cellphones without interfering with the nesting activity.
The dedication to be held in the Park’s nearby River Birch Pavillion will honor Judith K. Brennan for her many generous contributions to the Bird Club. Judy was an passionate birder and devoted member of the Club from 2014 to 2020, serving nearly all of that time as Recording Secretary.
