26 TeH) Ee AVE DBO IN BU Leal 
Chimney Switt’s Nest Discovered 
HE, Chimney Swifts have always puzzled me as to whether, when 
they suddenly dart from the sky, they enter the chimney or dart 
past it in quest of insects. It hasn’t seemed possible that they would 
come so close to the ground. 
On several occasions I went into the house and lighted papers in the 
fireplace expecting that the smoke would drive them out. Of course, I 
always had some one watch from the outside. No birds were ever fright- 
ened out by this process, so | came to the conclusion that the Swift did 
not enter the chimney. Not being able to be on two sides of the house at 
once, I was not certain that they darted by the chimney either. 
While sitting by the fireplace one day I heard a noise as of young 
birds. Looking up the chimney through the flue I could see nothing, but 
the bird cries were more audible as I came nearer, and I was sure I would 
soon find them. I then procured 
a hand mirror and fastened an 
extension cord to the electric light 
fixture; poked the light through 
the flue and used the mirror for a 
reflector. 
About six inches down behind 
the flue on a projecting brick was 
the nest of the Chimney Swift 
with four young in it, away from 
all harm which might have been 
caused by smoke or fire. 
And so the mystery as to 
whether the Swift really entered 
the chimney was solved. 
But it seemed that the strong 
light used, made them wary as 
they have not been heard since. 
The accompanying illustration 
will show how the light and mirror 
were used in locating the nest. 
Frep G. Pau.us, 
Elgin, Ill. 
[Ordinarily the Chimney Swift 
constructs a crude shelf-like nest, 
attaching it to the perpendicular 
wall of a chimney. This is an tn- 
teresting departure from its hab- 
its.—O.M:S.] 

