You won't believe who's moving into our chimneys
Morning from the Interlake — here's what's happening in Selkirk today. You know, sometimes you read the news, and something just jumps out as… different. Not a big industrial story, or a new city council decision, but something that reminds you of the quiet, natural world that runs right alongside our busy lives. I'm talking about these chimney swifts. A Winnipeg couple found their home became an unwitting Airbnb for a whole flock of these threatened birds, settling right into their old chimney.
This isn't just a Winnipeg thing, folks. These birds follow the Red River. They've been spotted nesting in brick chimneys all up and down this stretch of the Interlake, from St. Andrews right through Selkirk and beyond. Their numbers have been dropping fast, mostly because a lot of the old brick chimneys they prefer for nesting are either getting torn down or capped off. It makes you think about how our own city, with its blend of old and new buildings, plays a role in the bigger picture of these migratory birds.
### What This Means for Selkirk
* **Protecting Local Wildlife:** We're on the migratory path. What happens in Winnipeg affects us, and what we do here affects the wider ecosystem. * **Historic Architecture:** Many of our older homes, especially around Manitoba Avenue or near the Marine Museum, have the kind of chimneys these birds seek. * **Community Awareness:** It's a reminder to be mindful of the wildlife around us, even the ones we don't always see.
It’s easy to focus on the Gerdau mill, or the latest news from the Selkirk Mental Health Centre, but sometimes the most compelling stories are the ones happening right above our heads, in the quiet corners of our city. These birds have been using these flyways, following the river, longer than Selkirk has been a city. We should respect that.
Nolan Chicken, MiTL Sports Desk, Selkirk.
The early crew on the MiTL morning show always digs into these kinds of stories – tune in live at mornings.live.