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 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!
Related Posts:
Top 5 Strategies for Bird Removal and Control
How to Protect Bird Feeders From Hungry Squirrels
A 46,000 Year Old Bird That Was Just Found in Siberia