Now I Understand / myLot

Paso Robles, California

May 23, 2019 10:42pm CST

Often when we sit in our family room, I can hear chirping that appears to come from the fireplace. Now I think I know why. I took this picture as I was getting ready to go on my photo walk last night. I've been afraid birds somehow had gotten inside the chimney, but I'm hoping this picture means they just like to make their sounds outside of it. We haven't used the fireplace in years. Have you ever had a bird make a nest in a fireplace or other awkward site? Have you ever found a nest or watched birds build one?

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14 responses

Jim Bauer

@porwest (78761)

• United States

25 May 19

Birds tend to do this, and it can be quite troublesome depending on where they decide to nest. When I was in pest control I dealt with this all the time.

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Barbara Radisavlejvic

@bagarad (14283)

• Paso Robles, California

29 May 19

As far as I know we have the grating over the top of the fireplace to keep cinders from flying out and starting fire. I hope it will also keep the birds out.

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Barbara Radisavlejvic

@bagarad (14283)

• Paso Robles, California

31 May 19

@porwest I think I have one of those.

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Jim Bauer

@porwest (78761)

• United States

31 May 19

@bagarad It actually should. There are also chimney caps available for that, but that may be something what you are referring to.

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Deborah-Diane

@DeborahDiane (40055)

• Laguna Woods, California

26 May 19

@bagarad - Yes, when we were a young couple, we bought a new construction home in Texas. They didn't put a screen over the top of the fireplace! A family of chimneysweep birds built a nest in the chimney and one flew into the living room! I got a teenage neighbor boy to catch it and release it outside (he used the trashcan). Then, I called a company to come out and put a cap on the chimney. I was so surprised that was not included in the original purchase of the house!

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Barbara Radisavlejvic

@bagarad (14283)

• Paso Robles, California

28 May 19

I guess one wouldn't think to climb up and look in the chimney when house hunting, but you did learn it's something to ask about if you ever have to buy another house.

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Deborah-Diane

@DeborahDiane (40055)

• Laguna Woods, California

28 May 19

@bagarad - Yes, we certainly did! We have bought a couple of other new homes since then, and each time we had the chimney inspected before we closed! No more birds in the house since then!

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Anna

@LadyDuck (458233)

• Switzerland

24 May 19

We have protections to avoid that the birds fall in the chimneys. Two doves made the nest in a basked my mom had on the balcony... the baby were born there.

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Barbara Radisavlejvic

@bagarad (14283)

• Paso Robles, California

25 May 19

That must have been fun to watch.

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Anna

@LadyDuck (458233)

• Switzerland

25 May 19

@bagarad The babies were cute, mom took care to place grans and rice outside for the doves.

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Eva James

@wolfgirl569 (95226)

• Marion, Ohio

24 May 19

They made nests in my mom and dads all the time.

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Barbara Radisavlejvic

@bagarad (14283)

• Paso Robles, California

25 May 19

That must have kept your mom and dad busy cleaning up after them.

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Eva James

@wolfgirl569 (95226)

• Marion, Ohio

25 May 19

@bagarad They did while they were using the fireplace. It had to be cleaned every year.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (306269)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

24 May 19

I think I've heard of birds building nests in chimneys. I hope you don't have one in yours since you don't use your fireplace. You might need a chimney sweep if they exist any more.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (306269)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

25 May 19

@bagarad That's good you would.

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Manuela Lopes

@nela13 (55700)

• Portugal

25 May 19

If you don't use your fireplace then there is no problem otherwise it is better that they choose another place to build their nest.

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Barbara Radisavlejvic

@bagarad (14283)

• Paso Robles, California

29 May 19

I think it's always better if they nest somewhere else. That's what trees are for.

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Manuela Lopes

@nela13 (55700)

• Portugal

30 May 19

@bagarad eheheheh, that is true

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Always smiling

@allknowing (130064)

• India

24 May 19

We have had birds build their nest in our improvised letter box

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Barbara Radisavlejvic

@bagarad (14283)

• Paso Robles, California

25 May 19

They are pretty ingenious at taking advantage of the spaces they find around our homes.

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rakski

@rakski (112925)

• Philippines

24 May 19

maybe they know you are not using the chimney

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Barbara Radisavlejvic

@bagarad (14283)

• Paso Robles, California

24 May 19

As far as I know they aren't inside the chimney. It's kind of hard to look.

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rakski

@rakski (112925)

• Philippines

24 May 19

@bagarad that is so true

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Angie

@andriaperry (116860)

• Anniston, Alabama

24 May 19

Yes they made a next in mine last year.

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Barbara Radisavlejvic

@bagarad (14283)

• Paso Robles, California

24 May 19

Inside your chimney? How did you get them out?

Angie

@andriaperry (116860)

• Anniston, Alabama

24 May 19

@bagarad They grew up and left.

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John Roberts

@JohnRoberts (109857)

• Los Angeles, California

24 May 19

There is a mourning dove nest in the garage here.

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Barbara Radisavlejvic

@bagarad (14283)

• Paso Robles, California

25 May 19

How did it get in to build? Did you leave the door open?

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John Roberts

@JohnRoberts (109857)

• Los Angeles, California

25 May 19

@bagarad It's a communal garage and they can get through gaps in the gates.

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Ruby Hawk

@RubyHawk (99425)

• Atlanta, Georgia

25 May 19

We once had birds to nest in the chimney and didn't know until the weather turned cold and a fire was built. Thankfully they flew away and left the nest. Someone had to go up and clean the nests out of the chimney.

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Barbara Radisavlejvic

@bagarad (14283)

• Paso Robles, California

25 May 19

We would definitely hire a pro to do that if they nest in ours. We aren't able to do it ourselves.

Simone

@Janet357 (75656)

•

24 May 19

Why is it so? Do you have many trees around? Because it made me wonder why they chose chimney

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Barbara Radisavlejvic

@bagarad (14283)

• Paso Robles, California

24 May 19

WE have lots of trees and bushes. The birds are always singing in our tall tree and in the trees of our neighbors. They fly from tree to tree. Mine is not to reason why.

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Simone

@Janet357 (75656)

•

24 May 19

@bagarad how come they dont feel hot perching on the chimney?

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Aanshi Raghava

@Aansh13 (11251)

• New Delhi, India

24 May 19

Chimney...it's one of the rarest place... I know they do make nest at crazy places.... But chimney I haven't heard before

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Barbara Radisavlejvic

@bagarad (14283)

• Paso Robles, California

24 May 19

Birds will go where they want to go. We still need to get the chimney checked and cleaned, since the 2003 earthquake might have done some damage. We haven't used it since then.

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Scott Andersen

@DocAndersen (54411)

• United States

24 May 19

that is pretty cool! Our fireplace is running 3 months a year, so most birds stay away.

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Barbara Radisavlejvic

@bagarad (14283)

• Paso Robles, California

25 May 19

I don't often have a chance to sit in the family room. I don't like using the gas when most of the heat goes up the chimney.

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