Jackdaws often love to feather their nest at the top of chimneys – and that poses a big problem for homeowners.

What are Jackdaws? They are small, black crows with pale eyes and a silvery look at the back of the head. They eat seeds, insects and other birds and nest not only in chimneys, but also in the holes of trees and rocks.

This type of bird is commonly found in all types of countryside setting. The chimney, however, remains a highly favoured nesting spot for jackdaws.

The traditional nesting season starts in March/April so please be aware of potential dangers ahead. After all, it is estimated that there are 1.4 million pairs of jackdaws in the UK alone!

So, why are these nests a problem? For several reasons: the blockage of the nests won’t allow dangerous gasses such as carbon monoxide to safely escape to the outside atmosphere.

Damage can also be caused to the brickwork of the chimney flue and the nesting material is a fire hazard.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects birds and nests, which cannot usually be removed for reasons such as inconvenience.

However, the nest can be removed if it poses a danger to the householder, as long as the person removing the nest is an authorised person with a general licence (NEVER try and remove the nest yourself: for example, trying to smoke the nest out!).

James the Sweep is a member of the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps and meets the right credential requirements for removing nests. James will give advice about removing the nest, the types of bird guards suited to your situation and he can also get rid of the nest for you (costing just £100).

Find out more about how James can help to remove birds’ nests from your chimney: https://jamesthesweep.co.uk/birds-nest-removal-kent-east-sussex/#the-law-on-removing-a-bird%E2%80%99s-next-from-a-chimney