Up, Up and Away
Chimney Swifts are among the most aerial creatures on the planet, spending most of their lives in flight. They eat, drink, and even sleep in flight, touching down only to nest.
Swipe Up!
What's for Lunch?
Chimney swifts feed on flying insects like flies, beetles, bees, wasps, ants and other flying insects. Pesticide use has reduced their food supply, putting a strain on the swift’s populations.
Hanging Out
Swifts cannot perch on roofs, branches or the ground like other birds. Their feet are adapted to allow them to hang on vertical surfaces and their tails have strong filaments that help them balance and brace against walls while perched.
Home Alone
Though chimney swifts will roost in large colonies, they are territorial nesters and a nest site will only host one swift nest. This is a limiting factor for local swift populations
Tap the Nest!
There and Back Again
Chimney swifts migrate thousands of miles each autumn to the Amazon basin in South America, returning every spring to the very same roost sites they used the year before.
Nonbreeding
Breeding
Migration
A Swift Exit
New regulations on fire safety and cheaper construction methods have altered the design of new chimneys, making them no longer well suited for swift nesting and roosting. This has reduced potential nesting sites and contributed to the decline in the swift population.
About the Artist
Jake Kozak is a designer and illustrator passionate about making learning accessible and engaging. Visit his website below to see more of his work!
There and Back Again
Jacob Kozak
Created on April 6, 2026
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Transcript
Up, Up and Away
Chimney Swifts are among the most aerial creatures on the planet, spending most of their lives in flight. They eat, drink, and even sleep in flight, touching down only to nest.
Swipe Up!
What's for Lunch?
Chimney swifts feed on flying insects like flies, beetles, bees, wasps, ants and other flying insects. Pesticide use has reduced their food supply, putting a strain on the swift’s populations.
Hanging Out
Swifts cannot perch on roofs, branches or the ground like other birds. Their feet are adapted to allow them to hang on vertical surfaces and their tails have strong filaments that help them balance and brace against walls while perched.
Home Alone
Though chimney swifts will roost in large colonies, they are territorial nesters and a nest site will only host one swift nest. This is a limiting factor for local swift populations
Tap the Nest!
There and Back Again
Chimney swifts migrate thousands of miles each autumn to the Amazon basin in South America, returning every spring to the very same roost sites they used the year before.
Nonbreeding
Breeding
Migration
A Swift Exit
New regulations on fire safety and cheaper construction methods have altered the design of new chimneys, making them no longer well suited for swift nesting and roosting. This has reduced potential nesting sites and contributed to the decline in the swift population.
About the Artist
Jake Kozak is a designer and illustrator passionate about making learning accessible and engaging. Visit his website below to see more of his work!