Two small birds have caused delays in the construction of a new nursing building at the University of Acadia and, ultimately, could affect the opening of the installation.
The university club at Westwood Avenue was expected in Wolfville, NS, to be demolished in January to give way to the new building, with the construction that will begin last month.
But nature has thrown a key to the works.
Last summer, Birds Canada saw two chimneys who entered one of the university club chimneys.
Chimney swifts are a species at risk, and the destruction of their habitat is prohibited without permission.
The University submitted a request to the environment and climate change in Canada for a permit to destroy the chimney as part of the demolition, and after a 9 -day review period, ECCC issued permission.
The fireplace was limited, and the building is now scheduled to be demolished in mid -June. The construction of the new nursing building is now scheduled to start in September.
A University spokesman says that delays mean that the opening of the new building, originally scheduled for the fall of 2026, can be delayed.
The province is investing $ 13.9 million to help build the installation, which will include a dry laboratory, clinic teaching spaces and simulation rooms.
The Acadia Nursing Program, which began in September 2023 with 21 students, had 63 students in academic year 2024-25 and expects another 63 to begin this fall.
Swifts uses other campus chimneys
The fireplace at the University Club is not the only one on the campus frequented by Swifts.
University Hall also has an active Swift Roost chimney. As part of ECCC’s permit, that site must be monitored for three years.
Samuel Jean, Conservation and Education Technician at Acadia, will lead the monitoring and conservation efforts.
Spring monitoring will take place between May 17 and June 2, and more monitoring in summer and autumn will be carried out.
Jean says that the teams will sit outside the fireplace about an hour before sunset, be very still and calm, and try to tell the amount of birds that fly to the chimney. The cameras will also be used to record the birds that fly to the chimney so that a more precise count can be completed watching the video.
The largest number of swifts recorded on the site was 810 in 2021.
“It’s very impressive to see,” says Jean. “A few hours before entering, they gather and surround, surround and surround. And then, at some point, they begin to enter small groups. It is a pleasant phenomenon to witness.”
The chimney swifts cannot be perched on flat surfaces, instead of requiring a vertical surface. They often perch on hollow trees, fireplaces, wells and barns.
Jean says he is happy to help monitor birds on campus.
“They are pleasant to be around. They are good neighbors,” he says.
“Biodiversity as a whole is something important to protect. We share this land with so many other creatures and I think we all deserve to be here. Therefore, it is important to find ways in which we can live together and share that space.”
