What does it mean when I hear chirping birds inside my chimney?
Chirping from inside the chimney usually means birds have built a nest in the flue or on the smoke shelf, and there may be chicks in it. Don't light a fire in that fireplace or stove until a chimney technician has looked.
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The sound matters. Steady chirping that gets louder at certain times of day often means young birds waiting to be fed. Scratching or thumping may be a different animal, and the right removal method depends on which one it is.
Why birds end up in a chimney
A chimney is a sheltered, vertical shaft, and a flue with no cap or a damaged cap looks like a ready-made nesting site. Birds carry in twigs and other material and pack it into the flue. A nest can also sit above the damper and out of sight.
The nest is a problem for the chimney as well as for the birds. It can block the flue, so smoke and carbon monoxide can't leave properly. Dry nesting material burns easily, and burning it is a common cause of chimney fires. Lighting a fire to drive the birds out is also cruel. In many places nesting birds are legally protected, so it's worth checking with your local wildlife agency before anything is removed.
Droppings and nesting debris can carry disease, which is another reason to leave cleanup to a technician. Handling it yourself isn't worth the risk.
What you can check yourself
Listen and note the pattern
Notice when the sound happens and whether it is chirping, scratching or flapping. Tell the technician, as it helps identify the animal.
Check the damper handle
If the damper is closed, leave it closed. It is keeping birds and nesting material out of the room. Don't open it to look.
Look at the top from the ground
From the yard, see whether there is a cap with mesh, or an open flue. Don't climb up or put anything into the flue.
Notice smells and droppings
A musty or earthy smell near the fireplace, or debris or droppings in the firebox, suggests material has already come down.
Test your alarms
Make sure the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms near the fireplace work. If anyone has a headache or dizziness, go outside and call 911.
When to call a technician
Call as soon as you hear birds in the flue. Looking and listening can tell you something is there, but it can't tell you what it is, how much nesting material is packed in, or whether the flue is blocked. Call right away if a bird gets into the room, if debris falls into the firebox, or if smoke has come back into the room. Don't use the fireplace until the flue has been checked.
Nesting birds are protected in many places, so the timing and method of removal can depend on the species and local rules. Your local wildlife agency or building department can tell you what applies where you live. A technician working with a wildlife specialist will know when removal has to wait or be done a particular way.
One Call Chimney is a referral and scheduling service. Call (866) 576-7943 and we arrange an independent chimney technician for the job. The estimate is free. The technician inspects the chimney and gives you the price before any work starts, and you approve it first.
What the technician will do
- Identify the animal firstNothing is removed until the technician knows what is in the flue. The species decides the method.
- Remove or humanely evictWhere the species requires it, a wildlife specialist is brought in for removal or humane eviction.
- Clear the nest and debrisNesting material, droppings and debris are taken out of the flue and smoke shelf.
- Sweep and inspect the flueWith the flue clear, it is swept and inspected for blockage, damage or soot build-up left by the nest.
- Fit a properly sized cap with meshA correctly sized cap with mesh keeps birds and other animals out once the flue is clear.
Related questions
- Can I light a fire to make the birds leave?
- No. It is cruel to the birds, and burning nesting material is a common cause of chimney fires. It can also fill the room with smoke if the flue is blocked.
- Will the birds leave on their own?
- Sometimes, once the chicks have left the nest. The nest and debris stay behind, though, and can still block the flue. Have the flue checked before you use the fireplace again.
- Can I pull the nest out myself?
- It is better not to. Nesting birds are legally protected in many places, droppings can carry disease, and reaching into a flue is not a safe job for a homeowner. A technician can remove it properly.
- How much will it cost to get birds out of my chimney?
- It depends on the species, how high and how easy to reach the chimney is, how much nesting material is in the flue, and whether a wildlife specialist is needed. A cap or repairs to the crown or flashing can add to the job. The estimate is free, and the price is agreed before work starts.
- How do I stop birds coming back?
- A properly sized cap with mesh over the flue is the usual fix. It lets smoke out and keeps birds and other animals from getting in.
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