If you own property, it is likely that bird nests will become a problem at some point. A lot of bird species are moving into urban areas in order to get shelter, as well as find food sources. So, they are selecting buildings and green spaces to create nests and lay eggs.

Getting rid of a bird’s nest is not as easy as you may think. Here is a guide on what you need to know on this topic.

Understand the Nesting Season

First of all, it is important to know when bird nesting season is. Namely, this is going to be throughout the spring and summer months. Birds will spend time building nests, as well as laying eggs. Then, they will take care of them when they hatch.

This is the reason why it is best to avoid cutting hedges and tree-felling during this time. You may end up disturbing a nest. In particular, young birds are going to be very vulnerable and if they are injured in any way, it is unlikely that they will survive. What’s more, parent birds can be more aggressive during this time and this can cause you problems. Indeed, solutions like netting can prevent birds from nesting in the first place. But, we will take a closer look at this later on and why you want to take preventative action.

Know the Law

A lot of people do not realise that bird nests are protected by law in the UK. You cannot simply do what you want when you find one. In particular, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is an important one to know. Basically, this legislation means that you are not able to move or destroy a bird’s nest if you find one. This is going to be true when it is being used, as well as if it is being built. While there are some exceptions to this rule, it is essential that you know you cannot destroy a nest just because you no longer want it on your building.

Again, some people do not know the law and do know what they are doing is wrong. But, this will not matter in the eyes of the law. You can fact a huge fine, as well as even six months imprisonment. So, the last thing you want is to get into trouble. In most cases, the best thing you can do is take preventative action. In other words, stop the bird’s nest from being built in the first place.

Take Preventative Action

To avoid injuring birds and receiving legal penalties, the best thing you can do is take preventative action. Namely, make your property unappealing for building a bird nest. If you go on the internet, unfortunately, there are some inhumane solutions out there. You want to avoid this for a variety of reasons. First of all, it is unlikely that you want to cause pain and suffering to birds. In addition, you can be punished for these methods, which is the last thing you want.

Instead, know that there are legal solutions out there you can use. As we have discussed the law kicks in and will protect birds and their nests once they begin this process. So, if you think that you have appealing areas to your building, the best thing you can do is take preventative action now before it becomes a problem.

As we have mentioned, anti-bird netting is a popular solution if you want to keep birds away from your building. It is able to block off certain areas of your building where birds would like to land. For example, this can apply to roofs where they are able to roost and gather in groups. Alternatively, this could be ledges offering shelter and areas for building a nest.

There are also other methods you could try. For example, anti-bird spikes can be used on window sills and ledges. The idea is to block them off and not allow the birds to land. They are still humane and will not harm the bird. Often, people get the wrong impression about the spikes. But, birds are intelligent and if there is not space to land, they are going to move on somewhere else. There are professional bird control companies that can give you advice on the best solutions for your building. It might be the case that a combination of methods will work best for deterring birds from your property.