This move to a different type of habitat allowed them to have more options on where to nest. In the past, these birds nested in hollowed out trees but with the loss of much of their natural habitat, the birds found other means of protection in stone chimneys. Unfortunately, in Connecticut, the Chimney Swift population has been declining at about 4 percent each year. In the summer months, they migrate to the North and when the weather turns chilly, the birds head back down to South America to avoid the cold. To survive, the Chimney Swift catches up to one third of its weight everyday in insects during fight. The nests they build jut out from the chimney walls and are held together by the bird’s glue-like saliva. In fact, they mostly live in the air and typically only land to sleep at night and raise their young. The look of their wings gave this bird the nickname of the “flying cigar”. The wingspan of the otherwise 5 inch long bird is about 12 inches and the wing shape looks like narrow half crescents. Another distinct attribute of the Chimney Swift are the wings. Their legs and feet are designed for the lifestyle of holding onto the ridges of the walls. Chimney Swifts are accustomed to the vertical and textured walls of a chimney or the insides of a hollowed out tree. In fact, these birds have trouble balancing on horizontal tree limbs or anything horizontal for that matter. For starters, unlike other birds, the Chimney Swift does not find comfort in the branches of a tree. While they are sometimes mistaken as bats, the Chimney Swift actually has many unique characteristics. The Chimney Swift is the most common migrating birds found in North America. You May Not Recognize The Sound in Your Chimney – Take A Listen! On the other hand, if you would like to provide a home for these birds, it is best to learn ways to help them find and enjoy your home. If you decide you do not want the birds to return to your home, preventative measures must be taken within the proper window of time. In addition to the prohibited removal, these migratory birds always return to the same nesting spots year after year, therefore, if you had a nest in your chimney last year, you can expect the flock to return this year. This Federal Law prohibits the removal of any migrating bird without a federal permit. Chimney Swifts are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. While a migrating bird may not seem like a big deal, the problem comes in when they are no longer welcome guests. These tiny little birds migrate from South America during the Spring and leave the northeast around early November, just as the cold weather starts to come through. These birds are often confused as bats because of their jerky flight, but are actually completely harmless Chimney Swifts. You may have noticed little bat-like creatures living in your chimney during the months when it is not in use. What is that Chirping Coming From My Chimney
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