Chimney Swifts are common in North Carolina and build their nests inside chimneys, hollow trees, and other similar structures.

If you leave your chimney uncapped, you may attract these insect-eating birds, whose nests cause no harm to the chimney. Since they nest in summer and leave before cold weather hits, there is no conflict with building fires in your chimney. They spend the winter in South America.

This pair is on the wall of a well, with their nest containing three pure white eggs. I'm looking straight down the well in this photo.

For more on Chimney Swift conservation, see chimneyswifts.org.

Madison Co., NC 7/27/2012.