For those interested in birding history, April marks the 100th anniversary of the first chimney swift nesting tower, designed by Althea Sherman (1853- 1943) and erected in April 1915 on her farm near the northeast Iowa hamlet of National. She became the first person to observe and report the complete nesting cycle of swifts. A full-size replica of the tower was constructed in 2009 and sits near her gravesite in what remains of National. Her original 1915 tower, restored in 2013, sits in a historical preserve a few miles from Iowa City. Hers is a fascinating story of a self- taught early ornithologist who made significant contribution to science, and not just with chimney swifts. You can learn more about her at www.altheasherman.org and other sites.
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