The Proprietor Review

Federal Protection

The black Swift is under Federal protection.

The Black Swift (Cypseloides niger) is a fascinating and somewhat mysterious bird, particularly in its Canadian range.
Range in British Columbia, Canada
The Black Swift’s breeding range in Canada is primarily restricted to southern British Columbia and southwestern Alberta. In BC, they are distributed from the southern portion of the province, including Vancouver Island, north to Prince George and Hazelton in the upper Skeena Valley. They are common throughout Vancouver Island, though not yet reported from the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Despite their large range extent in BC, their numbers have declined significantly, with at least 50% experienced over the last three generations.
Favorite Nesting Areas
Black Swifts are known for their highly specialized nesting habits. They prefer to nest in inaccessible, high cliff faces, often behind or near waterfalls and in sea caves. These locations provide them with cool temperatures, shade, and high humidity, while also protecting their nests from terrestrial predators.
Key characteristics of their preferred nesting sites include:
* Near waterfalls or sea caves: The spray from waterfalls helps maintain a cool and moist environment.
* Dark and inaccessible ledges: They choose niches that remain cool, moist, and dark all day, hidden from light and predators.
* Moss available for nesting material: Their nests are typically made of twigs and moss glued together with mud. They will also use ferns and seaweed if available.
* Unobstructed aerial access: They need clear flyways immediately in front of the nests.
* High relief: Nests are often in a commanding position above the surrounding terrain, allowing birds to fly out horizontally and directly reach feeding altitudes.
Some known nesting sites in British Columbia are found in national parks like Kootenay National Park (Marble Canyon has the largest known population in the mountain national parks) and potentially in Yoho National Park (e.g., Hamilton Falls, Laughing Falls, Twin Falls).
Test for a Nest
Black Swift nests are notoriously difficult to locate due to their remote and often hidden locations. However, a nest can be identified by:
* Its location: On a cliff face, often behind a waterfall or in a sea cave, in a cool, moist, and dark niche.
* Construction: A cup-shaped nest made of twigs and moss, possibly with mud, ferns, or seaweed.
* Single egg: Black Swifts lay only one egg per breeding season.
* Behavior of adults: Adults will return to the nest at dusk to feed their nestling. Surveys for Black Swifts are often conducted in the two hours before sunset until dark, as this is when they return to their roosting and nesting sites.
Federally Protected?
Yes, the Black Swift is federally protected in Canada.
* It was assessed as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in 2015.
* In 2019, the species became federally protected under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).
* It is also protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994.
* Within national parks, it is additionally protected under the National Parks Act.
It is illegal to disturb Black Swifts and their occupied or unoccupied nests, with significant penalties for violators.
How Long Can a Black Swift Fly Without Coming Down?
While there’s a related common swift that holds the record for continuous flight (up to 10 months), information specific to how long a Black Swift can fly without coming down isn’t as readily available or definitively documented.
However, like other swifts, Black Swifts are highly aerial birds. They spend most of their time in the air, foraging for insects on the wing, and only land at their nest site or roost. They are known to fly with steady and shallow wingbeats, covering vast distances during migration. While they may not have the documented 10-month flight record of their European common swift cousins, they are certainly built for prolonged periods in the air.