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UK households with chimneys on house issued urgent and serious warningThe bird and wildlife charity is urging UK households to exercise caution as birds try to nest in warm and cosy chimneys

amid the winter months.NewsJames Rodger Content Editor12:40, 27 Jan 2025Chimneys UK households with chimneys on their house have been issued an urgent and serious warning by the RSPB. The

bird and wildlife charity is urging UK households to exercise caution as birds try to nest in warm and cosy chimneys amid the winter months.

The RSPB said: "It’s best to prevent birds nesting in chimneys – it reduces the risk of chimney fires, as well as avoiding injury to the birds and damage to their nest. You can do this by

having chimneys swept regularly and by fitting a cowl to the chimney pot to prevent access.

‌ "If you have a gas fire you will need to get a qualified gas appliance fitter to come and move your fireplace away from the opening of the chimney to conduct any work. If you have an

active nest in your chimney, it must be left alone, with no fires lit until the nest is no longer in use. This is both for your safety, as well as that of the birds and their nest contents.

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"Once the nest is no longer active, have the chimney sweep out and get a cowl fitted either by the chimney sweep or a builder. If there are birds stuck in your chimney that aren’t nesting,

you can get them out. Wait until nighttime and make the room at the bottom very dark, then shine a very bright torch up the chimney.

Article continues below "The birds will fly towards the light, thinking it’s 'daylight' and they can be caught in a sheet at the bottom." The charity went on and added: "If the bird isn’t

injured, you can release it outside. Then follow the instructions above to seal your chimney."

If you find a trapped bird in an inaccessible place (e.g. under floorboards, behind a bricked-up fireplace, in a cavity wall or chimney) please contact an appropriate professional such as a

builder, the RSPCA advises.