What is that chattering in my chimney?
Chimney swifts and chimney sweeps are too often brought together when a homeowner doesn’t understand the chattering coming from their chimney.  Swifts are remarkable little birds belonging to the swallow family.  They eat thousands of flying insects each day, including winged termites.  Swifts typically have only one nest of which the babies are their noisiest for only 2 weeks.  The babies then fledge the nest and the parents leave shortly thereafter.  Swifts migrate to Peru each winter and return in spring.  The same pair will return to your chimney each year to raise their young.  It is against federal law to remove or disturb their nest or babies.

Can I smoke out chimney swifts or have them removed by a chimney sweep?
Federal law protects chimney swifts, so disturbing them or having anyone remove their active nest is illegal.  Swift numbers are threatened due to loss of nesting sites and capped chimneys.  Their nests are small and pose no safety or health hazards when chimney is maintained.  The benefits of having swifts in your chimney far outweigh anything else.  These are very special, unique songbirds that are depending on human tolerance and understanding for survival. The months of January and February are the best times to have your chimney cleaned as the birds have long migrated.

The nest has fallen down into my fireplace. What can I do?
Chimney swifts or entire nests that have fallen into the fireplace can be reunited with the parents. Putting the young swifts back into the chimney is best for the birds as they are difficult to care for in captivity, and no one can do as good of a job as the parents. Downed swifts can often be found after a heavy rain, which can melt the sticky glue that holds the nest to the chimney. Other times, a nest will come loose when the chimney has not been cleaned and creosote builds up on the sides of the chimney, preventing the nest from adhering to the walls securely.

Renesting chimney swifts is not difficult, and by following simple guidelines, often ends in success. If attempts to renest a swift are unsuccessful, then bring the bird to Carolina Wildlife Care or another federally permitted rehabilitator as soon as possible. Swifts do not gape or beg in the way that most songbirds do, and attempts to feed or give water to them should not be made.