Our chimney bird story *with pics*

[MrsJaaxx]

For the past month or so, we've had some birds roosting in our chimney. We have totally enjoyed watching them get bigger and hearing them chirp for food when Mama comes with goodies for them. Mama bird and Daddy bird both roost there at night time, and during the day, they come back and forth, feeding babies and whatever business birds have to tend to. It's neat, you can hear Mama's wings flapping and then the chirp chirp chirp.

Last night we noticed that we were not hearing chirping. They leave the nest after 2 weeks, so we discussed that they must have headed on out. Well, this morning Sid tells me that she has baby birds in her birdhouse-- the cardboard one that she made. I go to look, and it's our chimney chicks!!!!! OMG I flipped out. Sid has been told numerous times not to touch birds, especially baby birds, and more especially THESE baby birds. I did not even allow her to look up the chimney at them because I didn't want her trying to mess with them. So here they are, all by themselves in this cardboard box. I burst into tears, as I like our birdies. Needless to say, Sid is in big trouble and did not get to see fireworks tonight.

We tried putting the box up in the chimney, but obviously we couldn't stick it to the side of the bricks. There is a shelf-like niche in there that we set it on, and we heard mama bird come. But she couldn't get to them because chimney birds can only roost/hang onto vertical surfaces, and where the shelf is there is sheet metal. Jaaxx went to the store and got a basket that was as close as possible to their nest. He attached it to a long piece of wood-- a piece of molding that used to be around our front door before remodeling. Then he put the babies in the nest and secured it in the fireplace so that they were in the right spot in the chimney. Then we crossed our fingers.

Soon we were hearing Mama bird visit the nest, the babies chirping, off and on, as if she were bringing them food like before. It appeared to be working! The big test was to see if Mama and Daddy birds roosted in there with them at night time, and they did!!

They are called Chimney Swifts, and they are actually an endangered species.

[Kate51]

There is a huge flock of them in our town, 3.5 miles away. They live in an old chimney (large one) at the old high school. It is amazing to watch them when they're out, like the tide's coming in and going out. They go all up and down our valley above the creek feeding. They seem to like to be near a water source also, for the bugs. People come out with their lawn chairs waiting for them to come in to roost for the night, there are thousands of them. THANKS for a wonderful story! Hope all is well.
DSC_4345 FlyCatcherBabies.jpg

These are not Chimney Swifts, they are flycatchers, habits very similar, but they don't usually flock together, such as Swifts, Swallows, Purple Martins, etc. Our Mamma is working on nestful #2.
I hope Sid understands now why people should leave them alone, you can't "keep" them, they belong to their Mommy's and Daddy's. Hard to make kids understand that, I know.

[MaryKay]

No Pics Mrs. Jaaxx! How did the babies get down to the box? Glad all turned out well.

[dawnlori]

I can't see pics either? my puter problem or yours?

[MrsJaaxx]

If you cannot see the pics, click HERE.

Kate51, that is too cool your town kind of has it's own!

[Kate51]

MrsJaaxx, they are really young, aren't they! Good work putting them back, if they went to them and stayed I would expect they'll take care of them......hope hope hope..Keep us posted!

[Kate51]

Originally Posted by MrsJaaxx

If you cannot see the pics, click HERE.

Kate51, that is too cool your town kind of has it's own!

They are becoming scarce, because they're losing their habitat all over the country. I daresay the chimney on the old school will be torn down at some point, they will go who knows where? Very sad. People really do love to watch them.

[MrsJaaxx]

Originally Posted by MaryKay

No Pics Mrs. Jaaxx! How did the babies get down to the box? Glad all turned out well.

My 9-year-old daughter got them out along with their whole nest and PUT them in her birdhouse that she made from a cardboard box. We cut the top off of it when we were attempting to just put the whole box up the chimney.

[Juggalo]

hopefully the mama will stick around time will tell

[MaryKay]

Here I was thinking she rescued them from falling out of the nest! But they are too tiny for that! Ah well, she was probably thinking she was giving them a better home.

Maybe down the road she would like a parakeet..oh nevermind, I just remembered about the fish and Jaaxx's rule!

Mike never minded all the goofy pets..dog by the pair, potbelly pigs, birds, snakes, spiders, chickens, ducks, ferrets and about a million P.G. (opps I forgot where I was, P.G. has a whole nother meaning)..pregnant momma kitties who took up with us, But he drew the line at more kids!