Although you may hear the noises of young birds as they beg for food, these are only temporary and should be tolerated. Swifts and hummingbirds make up an Order of birds called Apodiformes. It should be noted that chimney swifts are a significant predator of fire ants. They are long-distance migrants, crossing the Gulf of Mexico in both spring and fall migration. Some 14 to 18 days later the fledglings leave the nest, returning to the chimney only to rest or roost at night. It is illegal to remove or disturb Chimney Swifts, their nests, eggs or young during the breeding season. It’s a good idea to keep the damper closed during summer and to schedule chimney cleanings either before or after the breeding season. It is a federal offense to destroy the nest, eggs or young of chimney swifts. If chimney swifts are using your chimney and you do not want them there, wait for them to complete their nesting season and install a chimney cap during the winter-before April- to prevent future nests. In October chimney swifts leave … Chimney Swifts are protected by federal law under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Ask your chimney sweep to come back in the fall if swifts are in occupancy earlier in the season. Swifts stick their nests together with their spit, which basically glues the nest together and sticks it securely to the wall of the chimney. This bird had just arrived after a long trans-Gulf crossing. The rules regarding swifts in chimneys are simple. Among the delicacies consumed by chimney swifts are wasps, bees, aphids, mosquitoes (as many as 17,500 per day), ants, flies, and termites (up to 280 per day) to name but a few. Chimney swifts are small brown and grey migratory birds. There are specific qualities a chimney has to have to be structurally suitable for swifts. While migratory birds are beautiful to observe from afar, most homeowners do not want them taking up residence in their homes. Learning About Chimney Swifts by Dave Lamb – dave@mychimneys.com If you’ve heard some cheeping coming from your chimney, you probably have been a victim of a Chimney Swift nesting. Chimney Swifts may take up residence in your brick chimney if you leave the chimney cap off. Also, have another cleaning done after the birds leave and before you begin to light the fire to ensure the nest has been removed and the chimney … Fledging occurs after 15–20 days. Each open, tile- or brick-lined chimney likely hosts a swift family each summer. Unfortunately, chimney structures tend to be the favorite nesting place of the chimney swift, a small, cigar shaped bird that migrates to North America from Peru each spring before returning South in the fall. First, delay the annual cleaning until after young have left the nest. The average chimney swift's life span is 4.6 years, but one is known to have lived more than 14 years. There are 3–5 eggs; incubation lasts some 15–20 days. By the time chimney swifts are 21 days old, they will cling tightly to the nest or chimney wall, rear back, and flap their wings furiously until they are panting and out of breath.