1,000 Birds Funnel Into CA Fireplace In 2nd Bird Swarm Incident

MONTECITO, CA — At least one thousand birds funneled into a chimney in Montecito last Sunday, trapping themselves behind a fireplace gate just after 8 p.m. — an eery sight one might only expect to see in a horror film. The odd sight was also the second eery bird invasion reported in California last month.

Firefighters were tasked with the head-scratching process of trying to lure the small migrating birds, called "swifts" back up the chimney flue, officials from the Montecito Fire Department said.

"Every day is different in the fire service!" firefighters said in a statement.

Officials said they hoped the birds would fly themselves out of the flue overnight, but when they returned by 9 a.m. the next morning, the birds were still helplessly trapped at the base of the fireplace.

Animal services from Santa Barbara County were called in to join the effort. Animal professionals worked to design a chute system to funnel the birds out of the fireplace and let them fly out through the home's back doors.

"We are grateful for the positive outcome to this unusual call and the opportunity to problem-solve with our partners...," fire officials said.

The other bird-swarm was reported in Torrance on April 21, when around 800 small birds dove into a chimney. Footage showed the birds invading the home, hanging onto ceilings and taking over every room of the house, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The family was forced to stay in a hotel overnight as the birds took over.

"It’s so hard to explain. If you don’t see it with your own eyes, you’d never believe it," Kerri, who lives in the Torrance home with her husband and baby, told KTLA. She kept her last name anonymous.