You may only think of your chimney as a brick ventilation pipe for the fireplace. However, chimney swifts find them to be the perfect place for them to start a family. At The Chimney Guy, we want to help you better understand chimney swifts and why they nest in your chimney, and the proper way to handle them when they make your chimney their new home.
What are chimney swifts?
Chimney swifts spend most of their lives up in the air. However, they begin nesting in the spring. They tend to nest in large hollowed trees in the wild. However, when a hollowed tree is unavailable, your chimney is the next best option for them to make their home. This adaptation is beneficial for them, because it gives them many available nesting spots in urban areas. However, many people do not appreciate these critters inside their chimneys.
Although chimney swifts and their nest won’t do any physical damage to your chimney, the nest is a fire and ventilation hazard if it falls and gets stuck inside your chimney. Other issues associated with chimney swifts nests is that they occasionally could lose grip and fall inside your chimney. This can causes them to get trapped in your chimney.
How do I get rid of chimney swifts?
If you have noticed a chimney swift nesting in your chimney, you are not allowed to remove it because they are protected by the Migratory Bird Act of 1918. Removing a chimney swift nest is against federal regulations and can result in a fine or penalties. The only time you are allowed to remove their nest is after they have left, this is usually early to late summer.
The best way to make sure their nest is empty is call a trained chimney professional. Our professionals will be able to distinguish if the nest is empty and safe to remove or not. If you want peace of mind while also wanting to follow federal guidelines when dealing with chimney swifts, please call our experts at 920-830-1920 or schedule an appointment online.
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