Hi,
The house next door has been empty for years, the garden is overgrown and there is overgrown ivy on the garage. There are a pair of blackbirds nesting within the ivy, they remain all year for the last few years. I have sat and watched the blackbird collecting and building their nest over the last few days. We now have someone moving in, we told them about the nesting birds but they have cut this ivy at the root, it is now dying.
We are worried about the nesting blackbirds, is there anything we can do?
Thanks in advance
Any cutting, chopping, pruning etc shoulder be done before March, prior to nesting season. Once a nest has been started, in a box or anywhere, from when the first material is taken to it, it is an offence to, interfere in any way. Knowing that there was a nest in the Ivy, it should not have been chopped. I am presuming the Ivy has not been pulled down and only chopped at the base, It would take a while to die back, so the nest could be okay, if left alone, but the interference already may have been enough to stop the birds nesting. You did your bit by telling them about it, shame they did not listen.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
As Catlady states, any tree or shrub trimming or removal has to be done before nesting season.
I would also add, ivy is very ingenuitive (I know many gardeners call it a parasite), and often has many root structures, some actually taking nourishment from the items/plants/trees its attached to, so can be very hard to fully kill off, so hopefully the blackbirds won't have their nest compromised.
For reference, the link below will take you to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler