CHIMNEY SWIFT CHIMNEY RESTORATION FUND

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

The Chimney Swift Chimney Restoration Fund

The Chimney Swift Chimney Restoration Fund (the Chimney Swift Fund) is a project undertaken by Birds Canada with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal department of Environment and Climate Change and with support and guidance from diverse partners from Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia.

Partners

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Nature NB

Nature Saskatchewan

Nature Trust of New Brunswick

Nova Scotia Bird Society

QuébecOiseaux

Zoo de Granby

Goal

The goal of the Chimney Swift Fund is to help maintain nesting and roosting sites for the Chimney Swift by providing financial support for the restoration of anthropogenic structures (i.e., chimneys, barns, etc.) known to be important for the species in Canada. The Chimney Swift Fund helps address the threat of continued habitat loss to Chimney Swifts and aids recovery efforts for this species at risk.

Who can apply

1. Any owner of a chimney or other structure in need of repair that is known to be used by Chimney Swifts for nesting or roosting.
2. A third party, such as a conservation group, may also lead a restoration project for a chimney owner. In such cases, the third party is expected to provide the necessary matching funds (at least 50% of the total amount) from non-federal sources on behalf of the owner.

Chimney owners in Manitoba should contact the Manitoba Chimney Swift Initiative before applying here, as they have a specific chimney restoration program for the province.

Eligible restoration projects

Any repair work to an anthropogenic structure, such as a chimney, used by nesting or roosting Chimney Swifts may be eligible for financial support based on the site location, the ability to match funds, and the ability to maintain the structure’s suitability for Chimney Swifts.

Location: the site must be in Canada (for projects in Manitoba, see Who can apply).

Matching funds: support from the Fund can cover up to 50% of the total project cost. The applicant will be required to match funds on a 1:1 basis. Matching funds may include grants from non-federal sources, but not the federal government.

Maintaining the site for Chimney Swifts: repair work on the structure must be done without altering the characteristics that make it suitable for the Chimney Swift. The repair of a structure should meet the following criteria:

• It will maintain a sufficiently large opening to allow swifts to enter. A diameter (round structure) or diagonal (rectangular or square structure) of at least 28.5 cm is usually adequate for the species.
• If the repair work involves reducing the height of the structure, it will maintain a final height (the distance from the place on the rooftop where the chimney emerges to the top of the chimney) of at least 2 m.
• The chimney interior will retain a rough or porous surface (made of brick, stone or concrete). The project must not involve the installation of a metal liner.
• The restoration will not obstruct the chimney opening with a screen, cap or spark arrestor.

Please note that projects involving the uncapping of chimneys previously used by Chimney Swifts may also be eligible to receive funding, depending on how recently the chimney was capped.

Projects will be vetted to ensure that they will support the long-term conservation of Chimney Swifts (see Evaluation process below). This year, due to the shortened time frame for this iteration of the Fund, appropriate projects will be supported on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to maximize the likelihood of receiving support.

Eligible costs

All costs associated with repairing a chimney or other structure used by Chimney Swifts are eligible for 1:1 matched support. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to, chimney assessment, materials, and labour costs. However, please note that if you are conducting other repairs to your roof or building simultaneously, these expenditures cannot be covered by the Fund. Please clearly indicate the expenses for the chimney repair under Section 5 of the Application Form.

Amount available

In 2024, a total of approximately $200,000 is available for restoration work. Remember that the grant cannot exceed 50% of the total project cost. It is also important to note that half of the allocated amount will be issued at the beginning of the repair work and the remainder once the project has been completed.

Timeframe for repair work

Work eligible for the Fund cannot have begun before April 1, 2024, and must be completed by March 31, 2025. A quote for the repair work must be obtained from a contractor and the repair work must be carried out during periods when the chimney is not being used by Chimney Swifts (this varies between September and May, depending on the region). While the dates in the table below can be used as a reference, the specific time frame for repair will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For the uncapping of a chimney, in most cases there would not be a date restriction for the work, as the structure is not being currently used by Chimney Swifts.

Requirements for a permit

The Chimney Swift is listed as “Threatened” under the federal Species at Risk Act. This law requires a permit to carry out certain repairs on a structure used by the species. However, a permit is not necessary for projects that leave the interior of the structure intact and accessible to Chimney Swifts and that are conducted while the birds are absent. Nevertheless, applicants should consult the federal permitting guidelines to ensure that their project complies with all regulations.

The Chimney Swift is also listed as “Threatened” in every province of its range except Saskatchewan. Therefore, it is protected by the specific laws and regulations of each province and a provincial permit may be required to carry out repair work on a structure used by the species:

• A permit is required for chimney restoration projects in Nova Scotia. Contact the Biodiversity Program of the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (Biodiversity AT novascotia.ca) to request a permit application form. Applicants should account for a waiting period of 6-8 weeks for a permit to be issued after submitting an application. Please note that repairs cannot proceed until the permit is granted.
• Chimney restoration projects in Saskatchewan, Québec, and New Brunswick do not require a provincial permit if they meet the eligibility requirements for the Fund.
• In Ontario, information about the restoration project must be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (SAROntario AT ontario.ca) to determine whether a provincial permit would be required.

Evaluation process

Applications will be vetted by the Chimney Swift Fund Committee, which includes members from different regions across the Canadian geographic range of the species. The committee will review proposals to ensure the restoration work will not reduce the site’s suitability for Chimney Swifts. The projects will also be evaluated based on the importance of the site for the species, the availability of monitoring data, the presence of external support for the project, and the urgency of the repair work. This year, applications approved by the committee will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Terms of the Fund

Successful applicants must sign an Agreement with Birds Canada before receiving the first payment. This document includes a commitment to carry out the repair work and preserve the characteristics that make the structure suitable for the use of the Chimney Swift (see Eligible restoration projects above).

Successful applicants must agree to maintain the structure accessible to Chimney Swifts through a long-term protection plan (10 years) and commit to monitoring the structure for Chimney Swift activity (2-4 short surveys per year) in the 5 years subsequent to the restoration work.  Applicants may monitor the site themselves or authorize provincial Chimney Swift monitoring program volunteers to do so.

The first half of the grant will be forwarded upon receipt of notification by email stating that work has begun. The balance will be issued upon receipt of the final invoice for the project. Copies of the bills for materials and/or labour (proof of expenditure) will be required, as well as photographs of the work in progress and the finished project.

What happens if the project is cancelled or significantly altered?

If the chimney repair work is permanently cancelled before or during the work, or if it causes modifications that make the structure no longer suitable for Chimney Swifts, all awarded funds must be returned to Birds Canada. If the project is delayed, please email the Coordinator of the Fund (gclark AT birdscanada.org).

What to do before filling out the Application Form

Before applying for support from the Chimney Swift Fund, you should request a professional evaluation of the cost of repairing the chimney so that it can be maintained as a potential nesting and/or roosting site for Chimney Swifts. You must submit a copy of the estimate along with the Application Form.

FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION FORM

Note: in the following instructions, the “structure” refers to the anthropogenic construction requiring repairs.

Section 1. Applicant information

Applicants should provide their full name, organization name (if applicable), address, daytime telephone number and email address.

Section 2. Property information

Specify whether you (the applicant) own the property on which the structure is located. If you are not the owner, please provide the owner’s full name, address, daytime telephone number and email address. You must also provide a letter from the owner authorizing you to act on their behalf.

As the structure’s location may differ from that of the applicant or property owner, provide the address of the structure and its geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude; you can obtain this information by using Google Maps or a GPS device).

Choose the category that best represents the type of building on which the structure is located:

• Residential: e.g., detached house, apartment building, condominium, townhouse
• Commercial: e.g., bank, pharmacy, restaurant, movie theatre, hotel, bar, supermarket
• Office/Public: e.g., city hall, fire station, post office, hospital, public library, community centre
• Educational: e.g., elementary and secondary schools, college, university, vocational school
• Religious: e.g., church, temple, mosque, synagogue, shrine, presbytery, convent
• Agricultural: e.g., barn, silo, stable
• Industrial: e.g., factory, brewery, hydroelectric power station, warehouse
• Other (specify)

Section 3. Use of the structure by Chimney Swifts

If you are unsure about how to answer the questions in this section, please email the Fund Coordinator, Gwendolyn Clark, at gclark@birdscanada.org.

If known, specify whether the structure has been used by Chimney Swifts as a nest site, roost, or both. You can indicate in the comment box potential signs of occupancy found at the site during an inspection or routine maintenance, such as a nest, soot-coloured feathers, white eggs or eggshell fragments, or a carcass of a chick or adult in the fireplace or at the bottom of the chimney.

If known, indicate whether the use of the structure by Chimney Swifts has been monitored through a regional/provincial initiative (e.g., Birds Canada’s SwiftWatch, the Canadian Wildlife Service’s Québec Chimney Swift Roost Survey) and if so, which one.

If known, specify (1) the number of years of available data demonstrating the use of the structure by Chimney Swifts and (2) the last year for which there are such data. For example, if there are records from 2009, 2015-17, and 2022, the answer to the first question would be 5 years and the answer to the second would be 2022. Please also indicate the highest number of swifts recorded inside the structure. If known, the distances to the closest known roost and nesting sites should also be provided.

Please indicate in the comment box if the information requested in the present section was obtained from the coordinator of the Chimney Swift Fund or an organization involved in the monitoring of Chimney Swifts. If desired, additional information on the significance of the structure for the Chimney Swift may also be included in the comment box.

Section 4. Project Description

The project description should explain how the repair work will preserve the structure. Briefly describe the proposed repair work, listing each step involved and the approximate start and completion dates. Also indicate whether your structure is located in an urban, suburban or rural environment. Specify if the repair work is urgent (e.g., for safety reasons) or if it could be postponed to next year.

Section 5. Project cost

Provide a detailed breakdown of the estimated total project cost. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to:

• A feasibility analysis for stabilization or restoration of the chimney, architectural evaluation and drawings, engineer inspections and evaluations.
• Materials for repair or restoration, such as brick replacement and repointing.
• Labour costs for repair or restoration (if possible, include the estimated number of hours necessary to complete the task).

You must submit a copy of the estimate you received for the work. If you asked for several estimates, please include all of them, but indicate the company that you will be using.

Indicate the amount requested for the project. The maximum amount requested cannot exceed 50% of the total anticipated project costs and must have a 1:1 cash match (see Eligible restoration projects above).

Provide the amount of the matching funds secured to complete the project and specify their source (e.g., personal sources, additional grants from municipal or provincial governments, or a conservation group).

Additional documents

Please submit the following additional documents with your Application Form:

• A letter from the property owner authorizing you to act on their behalf (if you are representing a third party)
• 2-5 photos of the building or structure showing the damage to be repaired
• Copies of plans, drawings, or illustrations relating to the proposed repair work (if available)
• A copy of the required permits for the repair work (if available)
• The estimate/quote from the company conducting the repair work
• A letter of support from a local, regional or provincial conservation organization involved in chimney swift preservation (optional but helpful). If you need help identifying the appropriate organization, please contact the Fund Coordinator.

Application Checklist

This checklist can be used to ensure that your application is complete. All necessary documents must be attached to your application before it can be considered.

☐ I have read the grant guidelines and understand them.

☐ I have clearly filled in all sections of the Application Form.

☐ I have verified that all descriptions are complete and accurate.

☐ I have verified that the figures in the budget are correct.

☐ I have enclosed the cost estimate from the company conducting the repair work.

☐ I have enclosed photos of the damaged chimney.

☐ I have enclosed copies of plans, drawings, or illustrations relating to the proposed repair work (if available).

☐ I have enclosed all required permits (if applicable).

☐ I have enclosed a letter from the property owner (if applicable).

☐ I have enclosed a letter of support from a local conservation organisation involved in Chimney Swift conservation (optional).

Submitting your completed Application Form

Please submit your completed Application Form along with the required supporting materials by email to the Fund Coordinator, Gwendolyn Clark (gclark@birdscanada.org). See “Important notes for applicants” for more details.