Frequently asked questions

Note: Please be aware that some birds choose a chimney as an alternative nesting site to one in a tree.  Any birds seen nesting in a chimney should be left alone. Wild birds, their eggs and young are protected by law. If the owner of the property doesn’t want the birds to return to the chimney to nest the following year, a professional can be called in to prevent them getting back in.  The usual method is to attach a wire mesh guard or cowl to the top of the chimney after the nest has been abandoned, in order to deter the birds from nesting in that location in the future.

Any fully feathered adult bird that is trapped can be removed and released during the day if it is not injured and appears lively, alert and shows no signs of being affected by soot.

Do not release the bird if it:

• appears dazed (which is quite likely)
• has been trapped in the chimney for a number of hours
• appears to be injured (for example, has a damaged wing or soot in its eyes)
• seems to be young (a partly feathered nestling or fledgling that is found in the spring or summer).

If any of the above points are applicable, then the bird should be contained in a closed box with ventilation holes and taken to the nearest vet. In most cases, vets will treat wildlife free of charge during their normal working hours. The vet will assess whether the bird is expected to make a full recovery.

Birds that have come down a chimney and are active in the room will navigate to the nearest, brightest light source. For this reason, it is advisable to provide only one exit point to avoid confusing the bird. This can be achieved by closing all but one of the windows or doors, keeping the lights turned off and drawing the curtains over all the other closed windows.

If you are not in a position to contain and transport the bird to a vet, then we recommend that you contact our 24-hour cruelty and advice line 0300 1234 999 to report the incident.

If a bird becomes trapped behind a gas appliance, please read our FAQ Animals trapped behind gas appliances which gives advice on what to do in this situation.

Caution:- Handling of any animal either domestic, wild, dead or alive may be potentially hazardous. Obvious dangers include bites, scratches and general hygiene issues. Common sense should be applied in all instances and if unsure seek additional advice or assistance. Personal hygiene should be taken into consideration after handling any animal whether it is domestic, wild, dead or alive. 
 

Other useful information:

Finding an injured bird
Living with nesting birds (PDF 142KB)