Submitted by Nicole Montford.
One of the great things about living in the Sunnyhill Co-op is our proximity to nature but sometimes that nature comes closer to home than we would like! That was the experience of one member of our co-op who found a nest in their dryer vent recently.
A picture of the nest recently found in a member’s dryer vent.
Dryer vents are an attractive spot for many birds because they are warm, dry, and the proximity to humans can deter some predators from bothering their nests. This is dangerous because nest materials can completely block air flow, creating a fire hazard.
While many bird species are winding down their brooding season, there are still some that will continue to lay eggs throughout the rest of the summer. It is important to keep an eye out for debris hanging out of your dryer vent and birds coming and going from the vent. These are early signs that a bird is making a nest in your dryer vent.
A few common birds, their laying season, and number of broods per season.
The most direct way to prevent birds from nesting in your dryer vent is to use a bird proof vent cover. If you find that your dryer vent has become a home, Calgary Humane Wildlife Control is a very good source of information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Since sharing this story there have been some questions about the nest that was found. Here is some additional information:
This happened back in May, the eggs have since hatched, and the baby birds are no longer there.
The nesting birds were actively visiting the nest but fled when the member investigated the dryer vent, just a few minutes before the picture included in this article was taken.
The bird that nested there collected a lot of material for the nest, including the Magpie feather that is visible in the photo — it was not a Magpie that had nested in the vent.
The dryer vent in this story had a standard cover over it and was not an open hole. The birds either found a way to remove part of the barrier or slipped through gaps in the cover. The cover was only removed when the nest was being investigated, which is when the photo was taken. It has since been replaced.