The Chimney Swift 



131 



actually crowding out the j^oung birds. This practice was brought to my 



attention early in my observations, and was often repeated. In my opinion, 



it was a deliberate act on the part of the adults. By being thus forced out, 



the \oung birds are 



taught to cling to 



the side of the barn 



and to make proper 



use of the claws, 



wings and tail. The 



young thus become 



accustomed to this 



mode of perching. 



and retain it through 



their life-time. 



The action of 

 the adult birds was, 

 at all times, of a 

 mild, suggestive na- 

 ture. Generally, 

 after feeding the 

 young, the old bird 

 crawled over to one 

 side of the nest and 

 cautiously insinuated 

 its body behind the 

 young birds. The adult bird kept crowding until all but one or two of the 

 brood of five were forced out of the nest and took up positions on the verti- 

 cal roost. The remaining birds would sometimes leave the nest of their own 

 accord and follow their mates. This was noticed especially after those 

 clinging to the boards had been fed. 



It often happened that the adult birds would remain away from the 

 )'oung as long as twenty minutes, during which time the little ones would 

 return to the nest. Usually, however, one parent would remain with the 

 brood until relieved by the mate. On such occasions there was a period of 

 several minutes when both parents were present. 



One of the adults is shown spreading its wings over the young as if to 

 protect them from falling, or to allow them to shift about. This was a 

 common occurrence and seemed to contrast with their rather ruthless cus- 

 tom of crowding them out of the nest. 



It will be noticed that the birds are seen usually to the left of the nest. 

 This position was farther from the camera and the large opening in the 

 gable, and hence more desirable for the more or less suspicious birds. I 

 was about four feet from the birds and in plain view from the light of the 



CHIMNEY SWIFT CROWDING YOLNG FROM NEST 



