Birds Seek Warmth and Safety
Not all North American birds migrate to warmer temperatures when colder weather arrives, and those that stay seek out warm, dry places to make their nests. This is why birds often find their way into heating and cooling vents, as it provides them protection from predators as well as from the cold weather. When the weather starts to get warmer, birds will begin their nesting preparation for chicks and will likely remain in your home's vents rather than nest in a tree because of the protection they provide. While you might think of birds as relatively harmless, this could cause some potentially dangerous situations.Nesting Birds Can Cause a Fire
Birds find and use a variety of dry materials for their nests, such as twigs, leaves, dryer lint and even scraps of paper. When they bring these items to create a nest inside your home's vents, this can cause a fire when you turn on your furnace. A buildup of feathers can also spark a blaze that could travel quickly to multiple rooms throughout your home via the furnace ducts. The risk may increase when multiple birds nest in one area of the vent and bring large amounts of nesting material into a limited space.Birds Carry Disease
While most birds are pleasing to look at, they can carry a variety of diseases that could cause illness in your family, including pets. These diseases can travel through your home's air vents and include:- Salmonella
- Bird mites and fleas
- Avian flu