Birds stuck in vent???

dublingirl83

Hi all, wondering if anyone can help.
I've been hearing a chirping /squeaking noise from behind my bathroom vent intermittently the last few days. Not uausally at night time. Sounds crazy but it stops if I tap on the vent. Very difficult to see through the vent but I'm almost positive I can see movement.
Could I have a nest in here? I can't see the opening on the exterior wall so see if opening there for a bird to get in.
I'm a bit if a chicken and afraid to take the vent cover off should I just leave well alone and they will leave when ready ( noise is annoying but doesn't impact on my sleep) or is there an animal welfare charity/ company I could contact.

I probably sound silly because I won't take the front of vent- I just really don't like birds.

username123

I wouldnt take the vent cover off from the inside in case its not birds but a wasps nest or even mice or bats.

Why cant you see the opening on the exterior wall? Is it blocked or too high or something?

endacl

username123 wrote: »

I wouldnt take the vent cover off from the inside in case its not birds but a wasps nest or even mice or bats.

Why cant you see the opening on the exterior wall? Is it blocked or too high or something?

Lesser spotted chirping wasps?!?

dublingirl83

Thanks for reply, yeah it's up high and a gutter is partially blocking it.
Thanks for the bat idea stuck in my head now

username123

endacl wrote: »

Lesser spotted chirping wasps?!?

lol - youd be surprised the noises the little feicers make when there are a lot of them, busily regurgitating bits of god knows what for nest building!

Im thinking more bats though, it would be a more likely hidey hole and explain why they are quiet at night.

username123

dublingirl83 wrote: »

Thanks for reply, yeah it's up high and a gutter is partially blocking it.
Thanks for the bat idea stuck in my head now

What you could do is get something solid that is roughly the same shape as the vent (I presume its circular?) and take off the interior vent cover and push the solid object through slowly - so that it pushes out whatever is in there. You could have someone on the outside keeping an eye for an escaping bat. It sounds like the vent cover on the exterior is either missing, broken or has an opening just big enough to let something in - in which case, if its threatened from the inside whatever it is will be able to get out.

After its cleared youd need to check out the exterior vent cover to prevent whatever it is coming back in.

dublingirl83

Bats -!!!! Seriously .... How do I get rid of them???

dublingirl83

Sorry posted before I seen ur reply. Thanks for the advice- think its time to make the call to the father haha

username123

Irish bats are all protected species so just try to encourage them to leave then sort out the exterior - thats if its bats of course.

Allyall

dublingirl83 wrote: »

Bats -!!!! Seriously .... How do I get rid of them???

Info what to do (If it is bats)

You’ve discovered you have
bats in your home, what do
you do?
Firstly don’t worry.
These mammals pose no
threat to you or your home. In fact, bats and
people have been sharing buildings for
centuries.
• Bats do not spread disease
• Bats do not chew cables or wood
• Bats are not blind
• Bats do not get caught in your hair
• Bats do not bring nesting material into
houses
• Bats are more closely related to humans than
to mice

Contacts
Bat Helpline 1800 405 000

username123

^^ Thats a great leaflet. I see theres a phone number to ring too. Very useful!

dublingirl83

Thank you all for some great help, now just need to figure out if bats or birds, so u think it would be safe just to lift open the vent just a little to peak inside

username123

dublingirl83 wrote: »

Thank you all for some great help, now just need to figure out if bats or birds, so u think it would be safe just to lift open the vent just a little to peak inside

If you start fiddling with the vent whatever it is is going to move away from you - they already quieten down if you tap it - so you might not see anything. Youd be better off having someone inside fiddling with the vent and someone outside watching the exit to see what comes out I reckon.

Of course I dont know how long or curved your vent is - if its short then you run the risk of freeing whatever is in there into the house. Personally Id try to find out from the outside.

dublingirl83

Mystery solved. My dad came out today and took off the vent ( while I hid on the other side of the door ) there was a nest there with baby birds and an adult goldfinch. So the plan is just to leave well alone until the babies grow up and leave, then can replace the vent with the hole in it.
Thank god it wasn't bats !!!
Thanks for all the helpful advice.

username123

Yeeaa - good outcome!