An old section of an elementary school in Indiana is to be torn down this summer, a section that includes a chimney long used by Chimney Swifts for nesting.  One might now expect to read how the evil school district tore down the chimney in the dark of night to hide the act from enraged environmentalists, but, in fact, nothing of the sort happened.  In fact:

SAS [Sassafras Audubon Society] had a meeting with the school and decided the best solution would be to screen the old structure before the swifts returned and erect another hollow structure where they could nest during the summer months.

Dodd said he was surprised by how supportive Fairview was of the project.

‘The school has really embraced the idea,’ he said.  ‘The children have learned the history of the swifts and the kids have even drawn them in art class. It’s really been a bit of an educational tool.’

Wait, so harm to the swifts was reduced (if not prevented altogether) and kids (and adults) had their level of awareness raised?  Now that is a positive story with a happy ending for a Monday morning!  Way to go Fairview Elementary School and Sassafras Audubon Society!

Written by Corey
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.