What You Should Do if You Have Birds in the Chimney

Whether you have an entire nest of birds colonizing your chimney or just one lone roamer trapped without a clue as to how to get out, there is a simple and safe way to solve your nuisance bird problem. Continue reading to learn what to do if you have birds in the chimney, plus an important law that you should know about regarding chimney swifts.

Bird Removal Services Indianapolis Indiana 317-847-6409
Bird Removal Services Indianapolis Indiana 317-847-6409

Bird Control for Chimneys

It is no surprise that you have birds in your chimney. Chimneys are the perfect shelter for birds, especially because they are typically the easiest to access. Several species of birds here in Indiana like to nest in chimneys, including grackles, starlings, sparrows, flickers, and more. Swifts are another common bird species that build their nests inside chimneys. Swifts are federally protected, so it is important that you never attempt to remove a nest of chimney swifts from your chimney. Continue to the bottom of the blog to learn what you should do if you have a nest of swifts in your chimney.

To keep birds out of your chimney in the future, it is important to implement a few bird control strategies. Chimney caps are a great place to start. It also helps to set a reminder to close the flue every time you use the fireplace. Routine visual inspections in and around the house can help you catch an animal infestation in its early stages, well before it becomes a costly and invasive problem.

How to Get Birds Out of the Chimney

To get birds out of the chimney, start by confirming that they are indeed birds. Many people make the mistake of assuming they have birds in the chimney when in fact they actually have a bat infestation. Birds and bats sound very similar, so it a common error. If you are hearing noises inside of your chimney during the day, it is likely birds. Bats are nocturnal, so they will be active from dusk until dawn.

Chimney swifts are often referred to as “flying cigars” because of their cigar-shaped bodies. If you can see the birds inside of your chimney and you notice that they have the same features as a Swift, it is important to just let the process carry out naturally. Chimney swifts will only be there for about a month or so, just until the eggs have hatched. So, be patient and do not violate any federal laws. If you still here birds in your chimney after 4 to 6 weeks, it could be a different species. In this case, continue with the following steps.

The first step to getting birds out of the chimney is identifying them as birds. Once you’ve done this, decipher the location of the birds in your chimney. If the birds are in your chimney, you will need a medium-sized cardboard box and a cardboard lid to cover the box opening. If the birds have made it down to your fireplace, you will need at bath towel. In either scenario, you’ll also need a flashlight and possibly a broom and some bed sheets.

Place the box in position at the opening of the chimney so that there are no gaps that can let the bird fly into the room. Use your flashlight to attract the bird to fly down to the box by shining it on the sides of the box. Don’t make any noise during the process. A single peep might scare the bird from coming down.

Be patient while you wait for the bird to fly down into the box. When the bird flies into the box, use the box lid cover to enclose the bird inside. Carefully transfer the box outside and release the bird. You should not have to come in contact with the bird at all when using this method. You might want to wear protective gloves just in case, as you never want to touch a bird. Birds contain a lot of parasites and undesirable impurities that you don’t want to be exposed to.

If the bird is in your fireplace, close all exit points in the room except for one window or door, using bed sheets and thumbtacks if necessary. Take the broom and gently sweep it inside of the fireplace to encourage the bird to fly out.

Are you having trouble with nuisance birds in or around your house? Do you currently have a bird infestation in your chimney or attic that needs immediate attention? Contact Modern Wildlife Control at 317-847-6409 for safe and effective critter control for birds in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve commercial clients, too!

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Top 5 Strategies for Bird Removal and Control

Here in Indiana, there are several species of birds both native and migrant to our region. Although you might be an avid bird watcher and admirer, there are also populations of nuisance birds that damage and interfere with residential and commercial properties. If you are dealing with nuisance bird problem around your property, you are the right spot. There are several viable solutions to keeping birds away.

Continue reading to learn the top five strategies recommended for safe and humane bird removal and control in Indiana.

Critter Control for Birds Indianapolis IN 317-847-6409
Critter Control for Birds Indianapolis IN 317-847-6409

The Problem With Nuisance Birds

Although birds are lovely creatures of the earth, they can be quite destructive to the interior and exterior of your property. Not only can the droppings create a massive mess that takes a lot of effort and time to clean up, but they are also known carriers of several diseases and parasites, such as lice and mites. These contagious illnesses and parasites can be transmitted to both people and pets, so as a business owner, this is not safe for your staff or visitors.

As a homeowner, and over congestion of nuisance birds in or around your property can pose health and safety threats to both your family and your pets. Furthermore, nuisance birds can build nests in several areas of your property, which can cause flooding and utility breakdown issues. These issues are not only costly, but they are typically invasive to repair.

Fortunately, all of these nuisance bird problems are preventable with the proper approach. Here are the top five ways to keep birds away:

BIRD NETTING

It is not recommended to use bird netting for trapping birds. This is not humane, nor is it an effective method of bird removal and control. Instead, hang and install bird netting in areas that you wish to keep birds out of. Bird netting should be used as a barrier rather than a trap.

If you do find a birds stuck in your bird netting, put on some thick utility gloves, then gently attempt to untangle the bird and free them from the net. If you are having trouble doing this, contact a local critter control company in Indianapolis for professional assistance.

TALK RADIO OR PREDATOR RECORDINGS

Birds in Indiana, such as grackles, pigeons, and starlings, are easily frightened by loud noises, or any noises for that matter. Consider placing a radio in areas with heightened bird activity and leaving it on a talk station with human chatter. You can also play recordings of predators, such as coyotes and foxes, to keep birds away from your property.

ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS

There are several environment modifications or changes you can make to your landscaping to keep birds away. First, take down all of your bird feeders and birdbaths. This might seem obvious, but some people don’t realize that nuisance birds are attracted to these items as well as highly admired species like cardinals and woodpeckers. If you are having a nuisance bird problem, it is best to keep these things off of your property for at least a few seasons to ensure that the nuisance species have lost interest in your space. Additional environment modifications to consider include removing squirrel feeders, trimming your trees back, and even strategically placing scarecrows or fix makes around your property.

SCARE TACTICS

In addition to using recordings of predators as a scare tactic, you have some other options too. You can install certain moving objects around your property to help scare birds away. Items to consider are flashing lights, shadow makers, spinning wheels, foil strips, and wind chimes. If birds think they are seeing something, they will fly away and stay away.

PROFESSIONAL CRITTER CONTROL FOR BIRDS

Although all of these above mentioned methods of bird removal and control are recommended to implement yourself, the best method of getting rid of nuisance birds is to hire a professional wildlife removal company in Indianapolis. They have the knowledge, resources, and experience to curate a personalized strategy for bird removal and control in and around your property. If you have birds in the chimney or birds in the attic, they can extract them, clean up the infestation mess, and seal up your house or building so that future intrusions cannot happen.

Are you ready to enlist the services of a trained professional to deal with your nuisance bird problem in Indiana? Contact Modern Wildlife Control at 317-847-6409 for DNR licensed animal trapping and removal for birds in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties. We serve residential and commercial clients all throughout the central areas of the state.

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Modern Wildlife Control Indianapolis, Indiana
Modern Wildlife Control Indianapolis, Indiana