How to Get a Bird Nest Out Of a Vent, Or Dryer Vent

Spring is almost here and chances are you have seen birds in your backyard, busy collecting twigs from the ground to build a new nest. But where are they building their nests with those twigs? Knowing where the birds are building is more than just mere curiosity. You need to be sure that these birds are not building in your vents, gutters, or even a chimney. These are the three most common places where birds build their nests. 

Given their strategic location close to the roof and tucked away from the predators coupled with the enclosed location from harmful elements, your vents are appealing spots where birds can build their nests. However, it is common for the young birds to occasionally fall into your dryer vents where they get stuck since the tight space does not allow them to escape this tight space. 

Even the fully-grown birds have a hard time escaping in these narrow spaces due to restricted wing movements. Your laundry, kitchen, and bathroom vents attract different types of birds for varying reasons. However, the problem that comes up as due to the birds nesting and being stuck in these places is similar. 

Home Dryer Vents

If your laundry room often comes with dryer vents featuring an exit hole placed several feet off the ground makes it a great spot for birds to build nests. The warmth in these spots is suitable for incubating eggs. However, bird nests usually clog these dryer vents impairing its normal functioning. In addition, given the fact that these nesting materials are flammable in warm and enclosed spots should worry you given the fact that they are fire hazards. To avoid these problems, invest in a dryer vent closure. 

Kitchen Vent

These vents are installed to help remove steam and fumes from your kitchen. The vapor from the kitchen creates a warm environment that attracts birds to build nests in the vents. Given the location of the kitchen exhaust vents, it is common for the young birds to tumble and end up trapped in the wall fissures or even into the kitchen. This is likely to result in diseases. Moreover, your kitchen exhaust vents are likely to malfunction once blocked by the nest. Bad odor and fire incidents are also quite common in such scenarios. Like every other event on your property, it is advisable to cover the exits to prevent animals from finding their way into your exhaust vent. 

Bathroom Vent

If the bathroom vent is located close to or on your roof, chances are you will have birds making their way into them every now and then. Unfortunately, birds easily are stuck in the narrow bathroom vents unable to fly out. Allowing birds to construct nests and stay in the vents can be dangerous considering the amount of humidity generated by the show and your bathroom activities. This is likely to result in the growth of histoplasmosis fungus common in bird droppings. It is highly advisable that you keep the vents well covered to prevent birds and other pests from making their way and living in the vents. 

How can you tell if a bird is stuck in your vent?

It is unfortunate that thousands of birds are trapped in the vents every year. One way to tell if you have a bird stuck in your vent is by the frequent scratching noises made as the bird struggles to free itself. If the bird is young, you are likely to hear it chirp in an attempt to draw the attention of its mother. If the sounds are communing from pipes, they tend to be muffled unlike when generated from the vents. The birds should be rescued as soon as possible else they are likely to die and decompose resulting in a horrible odor. 

Removing birds from your vents

The English house sparrow and the European starling are among the birds you are likely to find in the vents. As you know by now, the activities of these birds in your vents are likely to impair its intended purpose. If the birds are in a dryer vent, chances are your clothes will take longer to dry and may even cause the dryer to overheat and ultimately start a fire. If in your bathroom vent, you are likely to have plumbing problems and bad smell. In addition, you are likely to be dealing with parasites, droppings, and even noise in your home. 

Before commencing with the removal of the nests, you must first identify the species you are dealing with given that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act whereby you need to acquire a permit to remove their nests protects some. If you are not sure of the species blocking your vents, it is probably a good idea to call a bird removal expert to solve your problem. 

To safeguard your vents from hazardous nesting, seal their exits using vent covers designed to allow air circulation and shut every time they are not being used. Once birds build their nests in the vent, it is important that you have them removed as soon as possible to maintain proper air circulation and lower the risks of fire. The removal process of the stuck birds and the nesting is quite tricky since the vents tend to be hard to access. It is highly recommended that you contact a local wildlife removal expert to get rid of bird nests out of a vent.



Also read our other bird tip: How Are Pigeons Getting In My House?