Every April the calls start: "I hear chirping in the wall by the dryer." A dryer vent is a warm, sheltered 4-inch tunnel, which is exactly what a starling is looking for.
How to confirm it's a nest
- Chirping or scratching behind the dryer or in the ceiling above it
- Grass, twigs or feathers around the exterior cap
- The flapper propped partly open when the dryer is off
- Dry times that got long suddenly, in spring
- Small insects or mites in the laundry room
Why it's urgent
Dry grass and twigs packed against lint, inches from a heating element, is kindling. Nest material also blocks airflow completely rather than partially, so the dryer overheats fast. Stop using the dryer until the vent is cleared.
What the law says
European starlings and house sparrows, the two most common vent nesters, are invasive species not protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. They can be removed anytime. Native birds like chickadees and wrens are protected while there are eggs or chicks in the nest. We identify the species when we open the cap and explain your options. Usually it's starlings and we remove it on the spot.
How we remove it
- Open the cap and extract nest material by hand and with a retrieval tool.
- Rotary-brush and vacuum the full duct; nests are often paired with heavy lint.
- Sanitize the duct.
- Install a dryer-rated pest-guard cap so it doesn't happen again.
Keeping them out
Never put window screen or hardware cloth over a dryer vent. It traps lint and is against code. A proper pest-guard cap uses a hood with louvers or a wide cage that lets lint pass and blocks birds and rodents. We install them for $89 including the cap, or read more about nest removal.