Swifts in my Chimney
After only three years in my house, last fall I hired a chimney sweep to clean my family room chimney. Most people have never hired one, even after living in their home for years. But I had swifts nesting in my chimney last summer. The chimney cleaner confirmed that swifts are the birds that roost in chimneys. Mine are either white-throated or Vaux swifts. Swifts are small, cigar-shaped birds. They are one of the fastest birds on earth (can reach over 60 mph) and use gliding to stay aloft, only flapping their wings to gain momentum. No other bird spends as much of its life in flight. Swifts can spend up to ten months in continuous flight, and it's estimated they fly more than 500 miles each day. They eat, drink, bathe, sleep and mate in flight. Their legs and feet are small and weak and prevent them from perching or walking. A swift that lands on the ground may be unable to regain the air. But, with the aid of sharp claws...