The Wisconsin Chimney Swift Working Group is partnering with chimney sweeps and masons that service customers in Wisconsin. Our goal is to identify chimneys currently in use by swifts and to enlighten customers on how to maintain these structures to benefit the species. Chimney sweeps and masons are on the front lines of identifying occupied chimneys and interacting with homeowners who may not be aware of the issues.  

Awareness of Chimney Swifts and the chimneys they use is essential to protection of this species. In pre-colonial times, swifts nested and roosted in large hollow trees. Later, as land was cleared for settlements and agriculture, most of these old trees were cut down, and swifts adapted to using chimneys. The Chimney Swift is now almost entirely dependent on masonry chimneys for nesting and roosting habitat. Swifts nest one pair to a chimney, and a pair nests in the same chimney each year.  New construction design typically does not include chimneys suitable for swifts, and existing chimneys are being capped, reducing nesting habitat.

Free educational materials (such as this flyer) are provided to chimney sweeps and masons who are interested in working with us.  In addition, we are available to help businesses and their customers concerning questions or issues that may arise. If you have a masonry or chimney sweep business and have not been contacted by our group, please email helpchimneyswifts@gmail.com for more information.

This project has received funding by the Natural Resources Foundation and Bird City – Green Bay.

The following businesses have joined with us to help this important species: