This is bird note.

What did Chimney Swift's do long ago

before chimneys existed.

Back then, there were many big hollow trees for Swifts to roost and build their nests

inside.

Swifts can't perch with their tiny legs. They can only cling onto a rough vertical

surface, like the inside of an old tree, or a brick chimney. Over the last few centuries, land developers cut down old growth forests with large hollow trees.

Chimney swifts began using human-built structures, which probably gave their numbers a boost.

But building styles have changed, and traditional brick chimneys are becoming rarer. Flying insects, which swifts depend on for food, have dwindled due to pesticides.

Fortunately, we can provide habitat for Swift's right in our neighborhoods.

If you have a brick or stone chimney, you can allow Swift's inside by keeping it open on top with the damper closed from April to October.

Avoiding pesticides in gardens helps make sure swifts can find food.

You can also learn how to build a wooden tower designed for chimney Swifts on our website, birdnote.org.

I'm Michael Stein.

Support for Bird Note is provided by Claudia and Bert Toath

and generous listeners around the world. You're going to be.