Hazardous Nesting of the Chimney Swift

Abstract

IN the study of nesting Chimney Swifts, Chaetura pelagica L., which occupy the air shafts of three adjacent buildings on the Kent State University campus at Kent, Ohio, observations were made on one bird and its mates which persistently nested in a hazardous situation. In spite of the fact that the nest was placed so near the top of the shaft that it was washed off by heavy rain before nesting was completed, the birds continued to build the nest in the same precarious position for four consecutive years. Each year the same accident was repeated. The life history of the male (No. 42-188516) and its mates just preceding and during those four years will be traced. The method of study and the life history of several other individuals have already been published (Dexter-Audubon Mag., 52:158-161, 1950; BirdBanding, 21:99-104, 1950; Ohio Journ. Sci., 51:42-46, 1951; Amer. Midl. Nat., 46 :227-229, 1951). Swift No. 42-188516, which will be referred to as No. 16, was banded on June 5, 1947, in air shaft B 1. At that time it was trapped with another bird which was banded No. 42-188515. Although these two roosted side by side each night for nearly three weeks, they failed to construct a nest. In the evening of June 30 only a single individual spent the night in B 1. Two nights later there were again two birds roosting there, but on different walls, and they proved to be No. 15 with another swift, No. 42-188524. After that date the swifts abandoned that shaft. No. 16 was not found again during the season. In September after the nesting season; No. 15 was retrapped on two different occasions with a small group of Chimney Swifts in shaft N9. No. 16 returned to B1 on May 9, 1948, at which time he was alone. After May 17 two birds were roosting there; four days later Nos. 15 and 16 were again trapped together from this shaft. However, they soon separated and were never found together again. No. 15 was found alone in shaft L3 on May 31. The next night it was in the adjoining shaft L2 with swift No. 42-188518, but once more dropped out of sight until after the end of the nesting season when it was for a second year found with a group of swifts in shaft N9. A foot injury to this bird (the band had slipped down over the toes, causing them to coalesce with a loss of the nails) may have interfered with normal nesting. The band was transferred to the opposite leg when the injury was discovered upon her return in 1948. This is the only case of such injury observed in banding more than 500 swifts. Possibly the