Hi everyone
A blackbird is starting a nest in a laurel bush which grows against my porch. This would be great, but the porch has an unsafe roof and builders will be coming to take it down in a few days, and then it will be replaced. Hence the bird will be in the midst of all the work. Please, can anyone tell me if it would be better for me to remove the nest right now (she is already lining it with moss) before eggs are laid? Will she start again somewhere else?
Thanks for any help i I really don't want her to abandon eggs.
I'm sorry to tell you that it is actually against the law to disturb a nesting bird, even if the eggs have not been laid yet. Can you put the builders off until the nestlings have fledged?
A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
Thank you for replying. Does this law applies to all species? It should be used against Council workers when they cut hedges full of nests!
Do you know how long it will take for the nestlings to fledge? This is bothering me, because the nest is only three feet from the entrance to the house, and only four feet from the ground, so she will be disturbed by people coming and going. It would be awful if nestlings were abandoned.
Thank you for your help.
Hi,
Yes, this law applies to all species. It applies basically from when the first twig has been laid until all the chicks have fledged.
As the nest is in such a busy place, the birds may well abandon it of their own accord and try again elsewhere. However, if they continue with it, you will be stuck with it for quite a while I'm afraid. Once the eggs are laid they will be incubated for about 2 weeks, then the chicks will stay there a further 2 weeks before fledging. Fledgling blackbirds are unable to fly, so the babies will hang about close by for a further period whist still being fed and guarded by their parents.
All you can do is hold off the builders for a while, watch, and see what happens.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
I think a little clarification is required here with regards to the law. Under the wildlife and countryside act 1981 it is an offence to intentionally damage or destroy the nest of a wild bird whilst it is in use or being built. By means of this in England and Wales, anyone who intentionally obstructs a wild bird from its nest would be committing an offence as this action would result in the failure of the nesting attempt. In Scotland and Northern Ireland it is also an offence to intentionally or recklessly obstruct wild birds from their active nests. Intentional disturbance (or reckless disturbance in Scotland and Northern Ireland) of nests is an offence that only applies to schedule 1 species which the blackbird is not.
We would recommend acting on the cautious side, so with a nest which is very close to an area where work is going to take place, ideally postpone the work until the young have fledged. If the work will physically damage the nest or the work will prevent birds from getting to it, it would not be possible to do the work without an offence being committed.
Warden Intern at Otmoor.