Swift Project Iowa exists to unite communities, science, and hands-on conservation action to protect and restore Chimney Swift populations across Iowa before it is too late.
Launched in 2026, Swift Project Iowa was created in response to an urgent conservation crisis. Chimney Swifts — once a common and familiar sight in Iowa’s summer skies — are disappearing at an alarming rate. Populations have declined by more than 90% in Canada and an estimated 65–70% across North America. Without coordinated action at the state and community level, this iconic aerial insectivore could continue its rapid decline.
Our work begins with awareness, but it does not end there.
In our first year, we are establishing a publicly accessible, statewide Chimney Swift database — a centralized hub where community members, researchers, building owners, and bird enthusiasts can document and monitor nesting and roosting sites. This resource will do more than collect observations; it will identify critical habitat, guide conservation priorities, inform building management decisions, and ensure important roost sites are recognized before they are lost to demolition, capping, or renovation.
As the project expands, we will integrate audio and visual monitoring at active roost locations to capture rarely documented behavioral data. Chimney Swifts remain one of our most understudied migratory birds. By gathering high-quality data on roost dynamics, seasonal timing, and site fidelity, we will contribute meaningful scientific insight that can inform regional and national conservation strategies.
Conservation must also be proactive. Modern building practices have eliminated many traditional nesting sites, and older chimneys — once essential habitat — are increasingly removed or sealed. To address this loss, Swift Project Iowa will design and construct artificial chimney structures placed strategically within communities. These alternative nesting and roosting sites will be installed using evidence-based placement strategies and tested methods to attract swifts, ensuring long-term habitat solutions rather than temporary fixes.
This project is about more than one species. Chimney Swifts are vital aerial insectivores, consuming thousands of flying insects each day. Their decline signals broader ecological imbalance and the loss of urban biodiversity. Protecting them strengthens local ecosystems, engages residents in meaningful conservation, and reconnects communities with the wildlife that shares their neighborhoods.
Swift Project Iowa empowers Iowans with practical, accessible ways to make a difference — from reporting sightings and protecting existing chimneys to advocating for swift-friendly building practices. By combining community science, innovative monitoring, habitat creation, and public education, we are building a statewide movement to ensure Chimney Swifts remain part of Iowa’s skies for generations to come.
The time to act is now.
