How Jim Chim-in-ey investigates a suspected birds nest in a chimney.

Dorset Chimney Bird Nest Guide: Article Five

• Visual inspection from inside the flue.
• Visual inspection of stack, pot and cowl from the outside of the property.
• CCTV inspection from the inside of flue.
• Roof inspection from the external agency if required.
• Refer to the chimney sweep's bird nesting calendar for what work can be carried out in line with The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
• If inactive, then the nest can be removed.
• If active, then an appropriate date to commence the work will be advised.

How Jim Chim-in-ey removes a birds nest?

There is two options I use to remove a bird's nest. The traditional hook & rod method or the power sweep & cable method. Both of which allow me to tackle nests in most varieties of chimney.

Why is it so important to protect wild birds?

Dorset Chimney Bird Nest Guide: Article Four

I met up with professional Ecologist, Edward Parrott to find out why it is so important to not disturb wild bird nests in season.

“Many birds within the UK have suffered dramatic population declines in recent decades. This has been for numerous reasons including loss of habitat, restriction in food supply, and even direct persecution by people. Finding a suitable site, collecting materials and building a nest, attracting a mate, laying eggs, incubating the eggs and feeding and defending chicks from predators takes an enormous amount of time and energy for bird. They’re at their most vulnerable when they’re on their nest and it’s really important that they are not disturbed so that they can complete their life cycle.”

Useful links
Rspb.org.uk

Recommended article: #7 ways to tell if your firewood is seasoned and ready to burn

______________________________

This article was written by Jim Chim-in-ey, 

An insurance approved chimney sweep 

JC sweeps all open fires, wood burners and stoves.

Covering Bournemouth, Poole, Blandford Forum and Dorset.

Want to have your chimney swept?

Contact JC Today!

The UK Law that is protecting wild birds.

Dorset Chimney Bird Nest Guide: Article Three

The Bird Law

What the law means to chimney sweeping and removing your nest.

If a nest is discovered, then we must adhere to The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Breaking this act can result in fines of up to £5000.00 or up to 6 months in prison.

The basic protection in writing.

All birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law and it is thus an offence, with certain exceptions.

• intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird
• intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird whilst it is in use or being built 
• intentionally take or destroy the egg of any wild bird
• have in one's possession or control any wild bird, dead or alive, or any part of a wild bird, which has been taken in contravention of the Act or the Protection of Birds Act 1954 
• have in one's possession or control any egg or part of an egg which has been taken in contravention of the Act or the Protection of Birds Act 1954 
• use traps or similar items to kill, injure or take wild birds
• have in one's possession or control any bird of a species occurring on Schedule 4 of the Act unless registered, and in most cases ringed, in accordance with the Secretary of State's regulations (see Schedules) 
• intentionally or recklessly disturb any wild bird listed on Schedule 1 while it is nest building, or at a nest containing eggs or young, or disturb the dependent young of such a bird.  

Information source ‘Protection of Birds Act 1954’

Recommended article: #7 ways to tell if your firewood is seasoned and ready to burn

______________________________

This article was written by Jim Chim-in-ey, 

An insurance approved chimney sweep 

JC sweeps all open fires, wood burners and stoves.

Covering Bournemouth, Poole, Blandford Forum and Dorset.

Want to have your chimney swept?

Contact JC Today!

The two most common birds to nest in your Dorset chimney.

Dorset Chimney Bird Nest Guide: Article Two

What birds are likely to nest in your Dorset Chimney?

Jackdaw - Corvus monedula
A smart looking, black, medium sized bird in the same family as crows and rooks. They can be distinguished by the sheen of the feathers on the back of their head and their pale blue eyes.

Jackdaws are by far the most common bird to nest in chimneys in the UK. They like to make nests out of 2 layers with the first being made of flexible sticks. The way they build their nest is quite ingenious - they take the middle of the stick in their beaks and force it down the chimney so that the edges bend upwards. They proceed down the chimney this way until the stick either gets stuck, or slips and falls down to the fireplace. Once a stick has become lodged in the flue, they gather more sticks and force them down to the same point. The tension in the sticks forms a solid weight-bearing base for the nest, themselves and their chicks. The second layer is made up of anything they can find to fill the gaps and insulate the nest.

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
A small, mostly brown, highly sociable bird that goes ‘cheep’ a lot.

They like to perch in bushes and trees around houses and also like to nest close to one another. House sparrows might seem common enough but are in fact on the ‘red list’ on RSPB’s birds of conservation concern as they have suffered an estimated 71% decline in numbers between 1977 and 2008. House sparrows are unlikely to nest in your chimney and are much more likely to nest in your attic, eaves, in a nest box in the garden, or even amongst ivy growing on your house.

A thank you from Jim Chim-in-ey

I would like to thank Ecologist, Edward Parrott for taking the time to share his knowledge and expertise for this fantastic insite into Dorset birds..

Useful links
Rspb.org.uk

Recommended article: #7 ways to tell if your firewood is seasoned and ready to burn

______________________________

This article was written by Jim Chim-in-ey, 

An insurance approved chimney sweep 

JC sweeps all open fires, wood burners and stoves.

Covering Bournemouth, Poole, Blandford Forum and Dorset.

Want to have your chimney swept?

Contact JC Today!

19 x 5 star customer reviews on google

Here is a sample if some of the great feedback I have received this winter 2016/2017.
Jim Chimney on google

Dorset Chimney Sweep Reviews via Google

Here is a snippet of some of the fantastic chimney sweep Dorset customer reviews I get via google review. Jim chim-in-ey has a 100%  5* Rating.

Should you require a chimney sweep for your wood-burner, multi-fuel or open-fire,

Call
JC on 07837 672 548 

How to tell if I have a birds nest in my chimney?

Dorset Chimney Bird Nest Guide: Article One

The bird signs to look out for!

1. Your updraught change and become weak.
2. Your room may start to smoke.
3. You can hear the sound of birds coming from your fireplace.
4. Your are finding twigs or dry grass in your fireplace.
5. You have seen a bird regularly visiting your chimney stack.
6. Some birds like to use the same nesting spot each year, so if you have had a birds nest in your chimney in the past, it's likely to nest there again!

Recommended article: #7 ways to tell if your firewood is seasoned and ready to burn

______________________________

This article was written by Jim Chim-in-ey, 

An insurance approved chimney sweep 

JC sweeps all open fires, wood burners and stoves.

Covering Bournemouth, Poole, Blandford Forum and Dorset.

Want to have your chimney swept?

Contact JC Today!