Once the chimney swifts have left, act right away to get your chimney ready for its intended use before winter sets in.Ĭhimney swifts will have left a mess behind, including nests, excrement, and feathers. This will keep the chimney swifts in the chimney and out of your living room!Īn annual chimney inspection will help ensure that your damper is in good working order and able to keep these birds from entering your home. If you have a throat damper, be sure it is closed during the duration of their stay. While the birds, nests, and eggs cannot be removed, you can reduce the chance of exacerbating the issues they could cause. This means that if you’ve already noticed the racket, your swifts should be gone before too long. If loud, high-pitched noise is what tipped you off to the presence of chimney swifts, know that the noisiest chimney swifts are babies, impatiently waiting to be fed during the last couple of weeks before leaving the nest. About a month after hatching, baby chimney swifts are ready to hunt and fly on their own, and they’re typically heading south for the winter in October. After mating and nesting, a chimney swift will lay eggs – typically one to five – which will be incubated from 15-20 days. They arrive at their North American destinations in spring. They aren’t creating a permanent residence. If you’ve become host to a family of chimney swifts, never fear. So, here’s the big question… When Will Chimney Swifts Leave My Chimney? This means that it’s a matter of federal concern that chimney swifts be able to stay put in their home of choice during the nesting season. This bird species is federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. You may be wondering if you can rehome or chase away chimney swifts. They’ll also nest in these places, building nests on their roosting surfaces by bonding twigs and other nesting material with their concrete-like saliva. Instead, they roost by clinging to rough, vertical surfaces such as hollow trees, cave walls, and – you guessed it – chimneys. When they do hold still, chimney swifts can’t perch. It’s actually unlikely that you’ll ever see them holding still – they spend most of their lives and perform nearly all the business of life in flight. They’re recognizable by their distinctive silhouette – chimney swifts have a cigar shaped body with long, sloping wings, and a short, bristly tail.Ĭhimney swifts also have a distinct style of flight, with their shallow wingstrokes and the ability to maneuver agilely over the landscape. Identifying Chimney SwiftsĬhimney swifts are small, migratory birds that divide their time between North and South America. But thankfully, once the chimney swifts have left, we can restore your chimney to its proper function – and make improvements to prevent their future return.

The solution will involve a bit of waiting – legally, the birds need to migrate out on their own. What are they, and what can be done about them? If you’ve noticed noises or bad smells from your chimney, it’s possible that you’re unknowingly providing a nesting spot for a family of chimney swifts. You might not be the only one who thinks your fireplace is cozy.

Chimney swift chimney sweep