Graham Joins Forces with Local Boy Scout to Save the Chimney Swifts
Human activity has caused the extinction of hundreds of species of birds and those numbers are expected to rise. In North America, the Chimney Swift is rapidly declining in population. In the past 40 years, the Chimney Swift population has decreased by 50 percent. Although the numbers are alarming, there is still hope for this declining species.
The Graham office in Minnesota stepped up to this cause by supporting a local Boy Scout construct a replica chimney as part of his project to reach his Eagle status. The new chimney now sits adjacent to the new Arden Hills Readiness Center, a 90,000 sq. ft. Minnesota National Guard Training Facility project recently completed by Graham.
Chimney Swifts need to roost on vertical surfaces and historically have nested in hollow trees. As old-growth forests are disappearing, so are the bird's nesting grounds. The swifts have adapted by nesting in brick chimneys, unfortunately most chimneys are constructed of metal or capped, providing no grip points for the birds. By building replica chimney towers, the swifts can continue to nest and increase their population.
Graham donated most of the building materials for the project and field staff from the Readiness Center assisted Morgan Masters of Troop #416 construct the base so that he could build the rest of the chimney himself.
