Do you ever hear a chirping or scratching sound coming from your chimney? If you do, it’s likely that you have a chimney swift nesting in your chimney. Although these little critters can be noisy and annoying, you might want to think twice before going up on your roof and removing the nest. First, you never want to go on a roof to confront a wild animal. Second, chimney swifts are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This means that removing a chimney swift nest at the wrong time is a federal crime that can bring a hefty fine as well as other punishments. At Northeastern Masonry and Chimney, we know how to remove chimney swift nests in accordance with federal regulations and we can help you with your chimney swift nesting issues.
Chimney Swifts
Chimney swifts are a little brown bird that spends months at a time in flight, however, a few months out of the year, they come back to earth to nest. In a natural setting, chimney swifts nest in old hollowed out trees. In urban areas, your chimney makes a perfect substitute. Once a chimney swift builds a nest and lays eggs, that nest is federally protected. It isn’t until a couple months later, when the fledglings leave the nest for good, that you can remove the nest.
Issues Caused By Nesting
Although it may not seem like a huge deal to have a bird nesting in your chimney during the warm months when you aren’t using your chimney, chimney swift nests can cause a lot of issues. Nests can cause blockages in your chimney, restricting airflow which can lead to subpar fires. Nesting material can also be a major chimney fire hazard.
The chimney swifts themselves can also be a nuisance. After the chicks hatch, they will constantly ask their parents for food by peeping. This peeping will be almost constant for a few weeks and can get annoying if you’re close enough to hear it. Also, sometimes a chimney swift will lose its grip on the side of your chimney and fall inside. Unfortunately, this often leads to the swift perishing inside your chimney.
Preventing Chimney Swifts
The best way to prevent chimney swifts from nesting in your chimney is to block access to the chimney opening. This can be done by making sure you have a properly functioning chimney cap installed on your chimney. A functioning chimney cap will ensure that chimney swifts (and other critters) will not make your chimney a home.
Don’t risk removing chimney swift nests too early. We here at Northeastern Masonry and Chimney have Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certified chimney technicians that know the regulations when it comes to chimney swift removal. Once the removal is complete, be sure to ask about installing a new chimney cap to prevent nesting in your chimney again. Call Northeastern Masonry & Chimney at 518-767-9315 or visit us online and to schedule an appointment today and never worry about chimney swifts again!