Atlanta BeltLine installs Chimney Swift towers on westside and eastside trails

ATLANTA — Atlanta BeltLine has recently built two new structures on the westside and eastside of the Atlanta BeltLine trails. The beam-shaped, 15-feet-tall posts are called Chimney Swifts towers.

Chimney Swifts is a small bird species now listed as a Vulnerable Species, facing difficulty finding nesting locations. They usually found in urban environments, breeding in human-made structures. These Chimney Swifts towers are the result of a temporary partnership between Georgia Audubon and Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., aiming to help the Chimney Swifts conservation in urban environments on westside and eastside trails.

“The Chimney Swift is an awe-inspiring bird, spending almost their entire lives airborne. They are a very urban species and have repeatedly adapted to life with humans. However, these birds are now in trouble, primarily due to declines in their food sources and loss of suitable habitat,” shared Georgia Audubon Director of Conservation, Adam Betuel. “One way we at Georgia Audubon are aiding this species is through the construction of Chimney Swift towers, jumbo size nest boxes of sorts. These towers provide a nesting location during the spring and summer, a roosting site for southbound migrants in the fall, and they are eye-catching to the public.”

After getting the permission for the project, Georgia Audubon then discussed the project with Atlanta BeltLine about the Chimney Swift towers construction. The towers’ installation began in late April 2021, starting with one tower on the Westside Trail south of the Lee St. / Murphy Ave. Bridge, close to Murphy Crossing, and on the Eastside Trail north of Ralph McGill Blvd., close to the Telephone Factory Lofts.

The project will include the installation of a native plant demonstration garden and signage on the eastside trail location tower. The towers will be in a highly visible location to further support Chimney Swifts to nest on the structures.

“We were thrilled to partner with the BeltLine on the installation of two towers and we hope that these towers will provide vital habitat for this vulnerable species, fewer insects for trail users, and an educational opportunity highlighting that Atlanta is for the birds and that we can, and must, coexist with our native wildlife,” Beutel added.

The GPS coordinate for the towers will be on:

1. 33.768029081412074, -84.36123996414393 – in front of Telephone Factory Lofts, for the Eastside Tower, and

2. 33.727446999583876, -84.41617312817229 – Not far from the Lee & White development, for the Westside Tower.

Follow me to see more articles like this.

...

Follow