Emergency Prep · Wildlife
Aerial Insectivores
Saving Chimney Swifts and Swallows
A swift fell down your chimney, or a mud nest let go of the eaves. 10 short modules on what to do in the first two hours — vertical brooders, the no-water rule, histoplasmosis safety, and how to get the bird to a rehabber who can actually raise it.
About this course
Chimney swifts and swallows are the hardest baby birds to keep alive, and the ones people find most often — down a flue, under an eave, flat on a porch. This course is the first two hours: how to tell soot damage from a broken wing, why a swift must cling rather than lie flat, why you never give water, how to re-hang a fallen mud nest so the parents finish the job, and how to protect your own lungs from chimney dust. Then it shows you what the rehabber does next, so you know exactly why the hand-off matters.
What you'll learn
- Spot soot and creosote inhalation and clear a swift's eyes, nares and beak without soaking its feathers
- Set up a tall, towel-lined vertical brooder so the bird can cling instead of lying flat
- Why mealworms and syringe water can kill an insectivore — and what rehabbers feed instead
- Re-attach a fallen swallow mud nest with potter's clay and a wire basket under the eave
- Handle swifts with clean cotton gloves so skin oils never ruin their flight feathers
- Protect yourself from histoplasmosis with an N95 and gloves on every chimney rescue
Who this is for
Anyone who has just found a swift, swallow or martin on the ground, chimney sweeps and homeowners with nesting flues, and animal lovers who want to be useful instead of helpless when the next one turns up.
Course outline (10 modules)
Quiz & Certificate
Knowledge quiz
After completing all lessons, take a short quiz to test your understanding.
Go to quiz →Completion certificate
Pass the quiz and earn a shareable certificate of completion.
View certificate →Frequently asked questions
Ready to get started?
$9.99 · Lifetime access · 10 lessons