Watching birds that look like cigars with wings today, the chimney swifts! About 6 of them flying through our neighborhood capturing insects as they flew high and low. Yesterday, while walking the dog, I saw possibly the same group of chimney swifts going in circles around the large heater chimney stacks of our local Roman Catholic Church and Our Lady of Peace school.
theChimneyGuy
The chimney swift by Audubon
Their chirping calls seemed to be the training instructions for the young ones, letting them know the ropes by modeling and chirping encouragement. I found myself looking up a lot more that day and since then, trying to capture a picture with my cell phone, but to no avail. They fly so far and so fast. It’s worthwhile just to pay attention as they move, not missing anything…
Wondering now about their welfare, I realize that the chimneys where they are nesting are not capped and probably won’t be. It reminds me though, of the customers who have had these visitors, and I’ve capped their chimneys once the nest was empty and the chimney swift family had migrated. Where did they nest this year?
Well, it’s often said that “the birds of the air are taken care of” so I will draw on the faith that I have that these little creatures will have the nesting places and all that they need to thrive this year. And, the caps that I install will hopefully be to protect the inhabitants of the home and not harm the inhabitants of the air.
It’s a backwards truth that giving is a gift in itself and brings return to the giver. This week in the U.S., we celebrate Thanksgiving holiday. The first settlers of this continent were able to survive throught their ingenuity and asking for assistance from those who knew the land better than they, the Native Americans. Today, we honor those Native peoples as well as the adventurous pilgrims.
The American spirit of entrepreneurialism is alive and well today. Our current crisis in the financial sector will bring about creative means to move out of ideas and actions that hold economic improvement overall at bay. We can look forward to innovative ways that our Chimney industry will adapt to this environment, and our business will be there to serve you as you look for alternative ways to live safely with heating alternatives and enjoy your hearth and home with your families.
Generosity is a wonderful trait. Let’s honor it today and exercise it when we can.
Happy Thanksgiving holiday to all who celebrate it!
GallaghersChimney.info is dedicated to those who enjoy their fireplace hearth and want information to keep their home safe.
Gallagher’s Chimney Service provides a safety inspection with every chimney cleaning. Barney Gallagher, the Master Chimney Sweep will explain to you just what you need to know and are not afraid to ask.
We hope to provide information on this blog that will answer your questions and encourage you to contact us for your chimney repairs.
In this day of finding ways to offset heating costs, you may want to investigate alternate forms of heating your home to save money and energy. A wood stove insert, zero vent gas log fireplaces, using a Lock-Top Damper for your open hearth fireplace are a few tips we will be discussing here.
So, with that introduction, if you have a question or a comment, just enter it below and we’ll be glad to start a conversation online! Have a great day, stay warm and safe.
TheChimneyGuy
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