A little bird in big trouble: using Citizen Science to help the recovery of
Chimney Swifts –  A talk by Liz Purves, Ontario SwiftWatch Coordinator, Bird Studies Canada.

Birds that feed on flying insects while on the wing (“aerial insectivores”) are experiencing
widespread population declines across North America. One urban-dwelling aerial insectivore, the
Chimney Swift, is experiencing particularly steep population declines across its breeding range in
eastern North America, likely because of a multitude of factors. Through the SwiftWatch project,
Bird Studies Canada (BSC), its partners, and hundreds of volunteers are working to help Chimney
Swift recovery in Ontario and across the country, largely by identifying, monitoring, and
promoting stewardship of nest and roost sites. This talk will first provide an introduction to BSC
and its broader Citizen Science initiatives, then dive into the current state of Chimney Swifts and
the aerial insectivore guild, and lastly share what BSC and Citizen Scientists are doing to help.