A friend has a neighbour who insists on knocking down the housemartins' nests on his house as they are trying their best to build them. I understand that it is ok to knock down a nest after the birds have migrated but what are the rules re knocking them down as they are being built? Any advice that I can pass on is much appreciated.
How awful ! I don't know the answer, but I don't think it is illegal if there are no eggs or young birds in the nest. I would love to be told I am wrong, so like you, I await an expert's reply.
That's dreadful. Poor little birds. I would like to knock your neighbour's house down! Perhaps you should put up some house martin nest boxes to help them out.
Cheers, Linda.
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Hi Peanuts,
It is an offence under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built.
If the neighbour is doing what he is, then he is breaking the Law!!!!
The following link is to the Wildlife and countryside act, I suggest you print it or forward it on to your friends mother and they go and have a chat with them and point out what he is doing is illegal and that he could be prosecuted.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/policy/wildbirdslaw/birdsandlaw/wca/index.asp
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Thank you Buzzard. Just what I wanted to hear. I will also print it.
Thank you for your quick reply Buzzard! As I said it is not my neighbour that is doing this. A friend's mother has been watching in disgust at her neighbour knocking down nests for the last few years and didn't know if she could do anything about it. I will email that link to my friend now, so that her mum is armed and ready for the housemartins' return!!
peanuts said:As I said it is not my neighbour that is doing this. A friend's mother has been watching in disgust at her neighbour knocking down nests for the last few years and didn't know if she could do anything about it.
Sorry Peanuts, I was just so annoyed and angry at reading how someone could do that.
Thankyou for clarify it is a friends mother watching her neighbour.
Great quick response Buzzard - well done.
Peanuts, I do hope this sorts things out for your friend's mother as she must have been soooo frustrated watching this happen and not knowing what, if anything, she could do about it.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Of course, if this person does not take no for an answer but continues to knock the nests down, your friend's mother has every right to report this person to the Wildlife Crime Officer at her local police constabularly, who can hopefully knock some sense into this person. After all, it is a criminal offence that he is committing.
Yup! Pointed out the link on how to report it! Thanks folks for all your help!
Hi Peanuts
Good luck in stopping that awful person from breaking down the nests, I hope they get the max fine possable, your friend needs to get some photos to show there are birds trying to build their nest.
Hey farmer, farmer, put away the D.D.T now. Give me spots on my apples, but leave me the birds and the bees, please!