I’ve just moved into a new house and after tracking the noise I have found that although I can’t see them, I have guests. Uninvited though they are, I’ve grown somewhat fond of my visitors, and after much research, and looking skyward I have found that they are Chimney Swifts. They are apparently nesting where a Chimney Swift ought to, and that is…in my chimney.
My dilema is: should I leave the flue open, or closed?
If I leave it open (which it was until recently) the adult bird falls through. Removing her although dirty work, is necessary. So I’ve fished her out and let her go. However, I’m afraid if I leave the flue closed and she falls, she won’t be able to get back up to her nest.
So… Open or closed?
Now for part two: When should I put a screen over the chimney so they don’t nest there again? I don’t want to kick them out of their summer nesting site, but certainly by winter I would maybe like to use the fireplace. Moreover, how do I go about removing the nest? After looking down the chimney (a dangerous job due to the irate parents) I have found the the nest is under an overhang in the chimney, and it simply would not be possible to remove it.
Kick them out when you have the chimney sweep clean out the chimney. DO NOT start a fire without having the chimney cleaned.You will burn your house down.
Close the flue - they can climb back up. That’s what they do, is climb vertical surfaces - they actually can’t roost or stand on anything else.
Wait until fall…have the nest removed as part of a regular chimney cleaning (which you need to have done anyway, as juswannano pointed out). If desired, you can add a chimney cap or screen at that time to prevent future nestings.
In the meantime, enjoy the benefits of having insectivores living in your house…fewer flies, mosquitoes, etc.
You might consider letting them nest each year - they’re not really hurting anything, after all. (Unless you actually use your fireplace in the summer!) I’ve always found watching the various birds that have nested in/around/on my house to be highly entertaining.
It’s illegal to move them until the babies fly anyway (should only be a few more weeks) and they’ll migrate in the fall.
Thank you very much Redtail. That’s exactly what I wanted to know. I like them there, but obviously I’ll need to sweep the chimney and get rid of the nest sometime. I just wanted to know when was a good time.