Birds love nesting in our chimneys since it offers them safe cosy place away from predators .Jackdaw is one of those birds that loves our chimney .Sometimes is hard to know if there is a nest in your chimney or not .
Luckily there are numerous signs to confirm nesting birds in chimneys. Debris falling down the chimney into your fireplace, sightings of adult birds bringing food and removing faecal sacs. Noise from the chicks, enter your loft and listen for calls, if there is a nest you will hear them. Have a look outside: you will see the birds flying back and forth dropping or pushing material into the chimney pot.
Why Is A Bird’s Nest A Problem?
Birds build a nest in a chimney by bending a twig and pushing it down the chimney until it wedges in place. Then they keep going, adding more and more twigs until they have constructed a dense ‘U’ shaped base, which they then line with hair, rags, bark, soil, straw, wool and many other materials. The nest becomes an impenetrable mass, blocking the supply of air to your fire, and causing a build-up of carbon monoxide. Carbon Monoxide is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas which is difficult to detect. Low levels of carbon monoxide can just cause very bad headaches but higher levels can quickly starve major organs like the heart, brain and nervous system of oxygen, leading to sudden death.I have talked about it my earlier posts but just in case you forget .
Don’t try to solve the problem yourself . Get a professional chimney sweep in – FAST! You need to do this immediately you suspect a bird is starting to nest in your chimney. Once the nest is in use it is an offence, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (punishable by a fine of up to £5000 or six months imprisonment) to destroy or remove the nest.
The Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 is one of the most important pieces of Wildlife legislation in this country.
It states it is an offence to…
Intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird
Intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird
while that nest is in use or being built
Intentionally take or destroy an egg of any wild bird.
You will have to switch off your fire and wait until the end of summer before you can have the nest removed. Get the chimney swept and a proper British Standard/EU compliant bird guard fitted for your appliance. There are different type for gas, oil and solid fuel.
If you suspect there is a nest in your chimney please contact us. Here to help
Later Folks xxx