Swifts nesting

Georgie Boyd
by Georgie Boyd

Swifts nesting under my carport last year up in the beams, would this be right


  8 answers
  • Deb K Deb K on May 09, 2020

    Hi Georgia, are you wanting to remove the empty nests? If they are all gone, you should be able to clean them out.

  • Tom Stuart Tom Stuart on May 09, 2020

    Swifts are great insect eaters both spiders and flying insects. I would leave them alone and enjoy them.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on May 09, 2020

    The swifts are benefical as the others have said, but they have probably created a bird mess from droppings to the nest construction. When they leave you can take down the nests and put in something to prevent nest building. That's what we did when the robins built a nest next to the front door on the light fixture.


  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on May 09, 2020

    You could always put some plastic sheeting or bags down in areas they make a mess and clean it up as needed. If they are not in the way of entry to your house or cars then I would leave them. If you move the nests now it will disturb the babies and the little family. Here is some info to keep them away after this nesting season.


    https://www.hunker.com/12509030/how-to-keep-birds-from-nesting-under-carports

  • Mogie Mogie on May 09, 2020

    We have some little birds making nests by our patio. Not thrilled with the location but I don't want to disturb them. I won't take the nests down I am just living with it.

  • Pat Pat on May 09, 2020

    I used to have birds sitting on the underside of the balcony above mine. They sat on the telephone or electric wires that came into my apartment. What a mess they made. I crumpled up newspapers and put them on the wires....problem solved.

    When I first moved in the swifts were building a nest on the roof above my balcony and every time I went out, they dive bombed me. The handy man came and got rid of their nest and, lo and behold, they started building another one. I was wise to them and knocked it down with my broom....discouraged them and never saw them again. I like to watch the swifts follow the gardener around when he mows the lawn...they are hoping he will stir up some bugs for them to eat.

  • Dee Dee on May 09, 2020

    I used coke cans up under the patio. They did not like the shiney can. Now I also have blue birds that like to nest there. I put a bar of ivory soap on the ledge. They are gone now.

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on May 10, 2020

    Once it is vacant for good, clean it up and close the opening. Good luck and stay safe!