Chimney Swifts in South‑Central Pennsylvania: Why New Towers Matter More Than Ever

If you’ve ever looked up on a summer evening and seen small, fast‑moving birds zig‑zagging overhead like tiny boomerangs, you’ve probably met one of Pennsylvania’s most fascinating aerial insectivores: the chimney swift. They’re here from late April through early October, spending nearly every waking moment in flight - eating, drinking, bathing, and even gathering nesting materials on the wing.

But in South‑Central PA, as in much of the eastern U.S., chimney swifts have been declining for decades. The reason is simple: they’re losing their homes.

Why Chimney Swifts Are Struggling

Chimney swifts historically nested in large hollow trees. As forests were cleared and old snags removed, they adapted to human structures - especially brick chimneys. For over a century, chimneys have been their primary nesting and roosting sites.

But today, those structures are disappearing too:

• Old chimneys are being capped or lined

• Historic buildings are demolished

• Modern construction rarely includes suitable chimneys

• Homeowners often close off access for safety or maintenance reasons

With fewer places to nest, chimney swift populations have dropped by more than 70% since the 1960s.

A Local Solution: Chimney Swift Towers

Across South‑Central Pennsylvania, a new conservation effort is giving these birds a fighting chance. The Pennsylvania Game Commission has begun donating and installing chimney swift towers - tall, hollow structures designed to mimic the interior of a traditional masonry chimney.

These towers provide:

• Safe nesting sites for breeding pairs

• Large communal roosts during migration

• Long‑term habitat that doesn’t depend on old buildings

• A way for communities to support native wildlife right in their parks and preserves

For a species that relies almost entirely on human‑made structures, these towers are a lifeline.

How Towers Are Helping in South‑Central PA

Here in Cumberland, Dauphin, York, and surrounding counties, the impact is already visible:

• New towers have been placed in parks, nature centers, and community green spaces.

• Local bird clubs and volunteers monitor activity and report nesting success.

• Public education programs help residents understand why leaving chimneys uncapped—or supporting tower projects - matters.

• Migrating swifts now have safer roosting sites during their long journey to and from the Amazon Basin.

These towers don’t just help chimney swifts - they also reduce mosquito and gnat populations naturally, since a single swift can eat thousands of insects per day.

What You Can Do to Help

Even small actions make a difference:

• Keep older chimneys uncapped if they’re safe and unused

• Support local conservation groups installing towers

• Attend late‑summer “swift watches” to see communal roosts in action

• Report nesting activity to eBird or local bird clubs

• Share information with neighbors and community groups

Chimney swifts have lived alongside people for generations. With a little help, they’ll continue to be part of our summer skies for generations to come.

Andy 'The Bird Guy' Dapkins

Guide and Owner