Rant: The old house on Maple Street taught me to check for birds before I start

I was at a job on Maple Street last month, a real old place. Got my gear set up, about to drop the brush down. Then I hear this tiny chirping sound. Look up the flue with my mirror, and there's a nest with three baby birds right in the smoke shelf. Homeowner had no idea. Had to stop everything, call a wildlife guy. Took two hours to get them moved safe. Now I always shine my light and listen for a full minute before I even touch my rods. That one delay cost me half a day's pay, but it was the right call. How do you guys handle animal finds in chimneys you didn't expect?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_tessa1d ago

Three baby birds in the smoke shelf" is a new one for me, honestly.

hugo_robinson251d ago

Wait, the smoke shelf? That's INSIDE the chimney. How did they even get in there?

blair_webb1d ago

Yeah, and it's wild where things end up. Like @the_tessa said, it's a new one, but it fits. I keep finding weird stuff in normal places. Last week, a full sock in the silverware drawer. Before that, my keys in the fridge next to the butter. It's like there's a rule that if a small empty space exists, something will find a way to live or get lost in it. A chimney shelf is just the latest chapter.