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rawlbay · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:30 am Post subject: way o/t - chimney swifts

Obviously, nothing to do with General Saltwater Fishing, but the only knowledgeable bird people I know are people that I have met through fishing, and most of them hang out here.

So I've got these critters living in my chimney. I don't climb up to the top of my chimney very often, so until all this chirping started, I didn't know that because of various design and corrosion issues, critters could get in there and set up shop.

Best I can tell from what they look like when they fly off, they are chimney swifts. They don't really bother me as I understand they eat insects and I kind of like their periodic chattering - makes me feel like a good host. That being said, the old lady is all bent out of shape because there is bird shiat all over the floor of the fireplace. The discovery of the birds led to the discovery of the open flue, but I don't really want to close the flue because then it will just be a perfect bird shiat collector.

I was about to light a smokey fire and go on to the roof with some wire mesh once they flew out, but I googled them and it appears to be the procreation season. Since i have no desire to bake the youngins, I have held off.

So, long story short: any body know anything about them? Do they hurt anything? Will they move out on their own at some point, such as when their chicks are grown? If I light a fire, will they go away or just sit there and die? Any idea as to what time of year their chicks should be able to fly away and take care of themselves so I can evict them with a clean conscience?

Any help would be appreciated...

ironmanstan · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:34 am Post subject:

the best thing to do is read about them and their habits , then you will know 1st hand. Thats what I would do.
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rawlbay · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:42 am Post subject:

Thanks for the tip.

topdog15 · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:52 am Post subject:

If the birds are nesting, they should leave once the young are old enough to fly( which should very soon as most chicks are already fledged by this time of the summer). If there are roosting in there they may not leave.
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landlocked beachbum · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:42 am Post subject:

Harmless to the chimney and very cool!
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fishinglady · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:48 am Post subject:

I've been through this. For now, close the damper in the flue which will keep the droppings from falling into the fireplace. Closing the flue will also prevent a bird from suddenly flying out of your fireplace and into the house [which can be exciting if you have a cat....both you and the cat trying to get to the bird].

The babies will leave in two to three weeks...you'll notice the silence. The noise usually comes when the parents are feeding the babies...each baby screaming loudly for its share of the food. Once there has been silence for several days or a week, you can assume the nest is empty and then safely open the flue, clean the mess that will fall into the fireplace, and be ready for the next step. You will need to clean the chimney, or have it done, to remove the nest [prevents a chimney fire], then have a mesh chimney cap installed which will prevent any nests in the future.

allwheel4x · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 7:09 pm Post subject: way ot

Had a martin in my bedroom chimney-heck of a time getting him out-he couldn't get enough lift to fly out and letting him out in the bedroom was a big mistake-dogs had a good time though!Need to repair screen on chimney.

barnaclebill · Horse Mullet Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 139

these fellers are barn swallows, they build their nests out of mud most of the time on the underside of a large culvert, they will migrate south in a month or so. When they leave it will be a good idea to try and wash their nests off with a water sprayer. As they will restrict updraft if you light it this fall. It'll be a little messy to clean out but well worth it.. chicken wire over the top of the chimney will keep em out next year.
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kweber · Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 8:33 am Post subject:

swifts look like a flying cigar( they have a short stubby tail) just get a front closure for the fireplace, that'll keep them out of the house. as a bonus, swifts tend to keep the soot scrubbed out, also.
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SurfinSapo · Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 4:30 pm Post subject:

http://www.havahart.com/store/live-animal-traps/1084

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rawlbay · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 1:37 pm Post subject:

Update!

They left on their own a few weeks after I posted up last year, as TopDog predicted. I was planning on putting up some wire mesh to keep them out once they left. But, i did a little research when they were living here and I read that they have to have a vertical place to build their nests and there aren't a whole lot of suitable places in these parts nowadays. They used to nest in hollowed out dead trees, but such trees are few and far between now.

So, I cleaned out their remnants but left the opening. The remnants consisted of the nest, egg shells, and some bird poop, so I take it the chicks made it out ok.

About a weeks ago the chattering returned. I went out around sunset as soon as it stopped and, sure enough, a couple of swifts were zooming around above my chimney doing their thing. Pretty cool. I wonder if a pair will return to the same place, or if these guys are new?

topdog15 · Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 2:01 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the update. Very Happy

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Rebecca of Sunnybrookfarm · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 3974

they might be the ones from last year, or even the chicks!

props rawlbay for letting them do their thing. pretty cool. Cool

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Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

Before we got the chimney cap fixed I had a nesting bird come into the house. I caught it with a hand net and pitched it outside.