Chimney swift chimney sweep11/26/2023 This means that once they’ve settled in, you can’t simply have a wildlife removal service safely take them out. For example, a 30-foot tower constructed at the Prairie Ridge Ecostation in Raleigh, North Carolina, provides a roosting place for 5,000 birds!Ĭoncerned about critters in your chimney?Ĭontact Doctor Flue! Our team of expertly trained technicians can evaluate your situation, offer our recommendations, explain to you the process, and install a chimney cap.What sets this particular animal apart? Well this bird, among others, is protected by federal law under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Not only will this preventative measure deter the swifts from nesting in your chimney, but will also keep the birds from becoming trapped if they do manage to get into the chimney.Īlthough you may feel that capping your chimney will deprive a chimney swift family of a place to roost, it’s important to note that there are many conservation groups building alternative habitats. So, what should you do if you discover that there are chimney swifts living in your chimney? One of the easiest and safest ways to keep chimney swifts out of your chimney is to have a chimney cap installed, especially if you have a metal-lined chimney. Since chimney swifts are protected by federal law under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it’s illegal to remove or disturb chimney swifts, their nests, eggs, or young during the breeding season. Since the mid-1960s, their population has dropped by 65 percent. To find out where you can view one of these large roosts (about 30 minutes before sunset is best) contact your local Audubon You might catch them all swirling like a tornado into the chimney – it’s an amazing spectacle!Ĭhimney swifts have been in a long-term decline for the last 50 years.Some roosts may consist of an extended family group of a half dozen birds while others can contain hundreds or even thousands. Chimney swifts congregate in communal roosts prior to their fall migration.The Navy is studying the birds’ flocking behavior to create flight models for drones.The birds are skilled fliers that can perform certain aerobatic maneuvers that most airplane pilots only dream of attempting.When they’re not flying they hang out in chimneys – if you’re lucky, not yours. Chimney swifts spend nearly all their time in flight! Because of their spindly legs they can’t perch, so they feed and drink on the wing.Developments during the Industrial Age, introduced chimneys into the environment, and eventually, the birds used them as a replacement to build their nests. As progress marched on, these trees were cleared to create farm land, and later, cities were built. Before Europeans settled in North America, chimney swifts roosted and nested in hollow trees. Often referred to as “a cigar with wings”, these birds are the only swifts that reside in eastern North America. But, there’s one bird in particular that can be especially problematic – the chimney swift. Raccoons, squirrels, bats, and birds are among the many different types of critters that find their way into your chimney. Have you ever tried to wrangle raccoons out of a chimney? Hopefully you haven’t had to do that, but for professional chimney sweeps it’s not an unusual thing.
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