Chimney Swifts in Washtenaw County

In February, I met with Barbara Lucas, the producer of "In the Green Room" on WEMU (89.1 FM) to talk about the chimney swift tower that was built in the fall at Leslie Park Golf Course. This morning, that segment aired on the radio and is now podcast on the WEMU website. My part is brief and the interview was conducted during the walk up to the tower through the snow. Looking back at my records, the low temperature that day was -10 degrees.

You can listen to the whole segment HERE

You can read more about the Chimney Swift Tower by reading my blog post about it or by going to ChimneySwifts.org.

The Chimney Swift Tower at Leslie Park Golf Course



Eagle Scout Project (Chimney Swift Tower)

Chimney Swifts (Chaetura pelagica) are a threatened species of birds that spend summers in the Midwest and winter in South America. They are unable to perch like song birds so they must spiral into their nesting and roosting sites. 

Before European settlement in North America, Chimney Swifts would nest in caves and hollowed out trees. In the last couple of centuries, they have adapted to using house chimneys for nesting. As more energy efficient furnaces become widespread in households, chimneys are being capped and are sometimes are even being eliminated in new construction. Although worldwide population is estimated at 15 million, just a few years ago the population was much higher. In order to keep the Chimney Swift common, various agencies have begun constructing purpose built towers that the swifts can use as nesting and roosting sites. You can find out more by clicking on chimneyswifts.org or Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania

In the spring of 2013, I was approached by a young man who wanted to come up with a project for completion of his Eagle Scout rank. This rank is supposed to include an extensive service project that the scout plans, organizes, leads and manages. I consulted with the City of Ann Arbor's ornithologist and she suggested the Chimney Swift tower. The golf course supplied the construction materials and a site for the tower (to the left of #14 tee). The labor was all organized by the prospective Eagle Scout.

The base of the tower.

The base is about to be set in concrete. 

After the concrete is cured, the rest of the construction is completed.

You can see the completed tower from the clubhouse.  It is the white line in the upper center of the picture.

The completed tower as seen from #14 tee. It is about 14 feet tall and 18 inches on a side.

The sign on the tower explains about chimney swifts and what the tower does.

A closer view of the sign.