DON’T CAP YOUR CHIMNEY

This blog refers to a bird that’s not an owl. Chimney Swifts eat pesky insects on-the-wing making them great neighbors to have. They are removing winged insects from around our homes and lawns and their presence is like having a pest control agent visiting for free!
To learn more about swifts, please visit www.allaboutbirds.org/.

The simplest way to provide a home for them is by not capping your chimney. In natural settings, these birds use giant hollow trees that have lost their crown so just the massive trunk is standing. In today’s urban world, an open chimney can resemble these large tree trunks.

I have a couple of friends with uncapped chimneys who enjoy the chatterings of swifts each evening during the warmer months when the birds come to roost. Eventually that chattering turns to silence as the birds sleep quietly through the night. If you want to avoid a swift flying loose in your house, simply close the damper. When your fireplace is not in use, closing the damper is always a good idea to keep out unwanted critters and the weather.

If your chimney is capped and you’d like to attract a nesting pair of Chimney Swifts but have no interest in uncapping your chimney, you’re in luck. There are directions on how to build your own Chimney Swift Tower on your property by going to the web site: chimneyswifts.org. Bring these pest control agents closer to home. Do it for the birds!

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