Look ot for the birds nesting

Can you carry out tree or hedge work when there is a bird’s nest? 

We often get asked how bird nests affect our ability to carry out our work here at Chris Arnold Tree Surgery. Many people assume that we cannot carry out works on trees and hedges that have a nest in them, but this is incorrect. 

The key terminology to remember when discussing tree or hedge work and bird nests is “active” and “nesting”. 

If there is an active nest or a bird is nesting within a tree or hedge, then we would avoid any work on that area. 

As a contractor it is our responsibility to ensure that our work does not impact upon any nesting birds and, as such, we carry out a thorough assessment to confirm that any tree surgery, hedge maintenance, vegetation or grounds clearance, or any forestry work we undertake will not disturb actively nesting birds. 

Why you should avoid active bird nests. 

In the UK, all wild birds, their nests and their eggs are protected by law, specifically by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Under this Act it is an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird; intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built; intentionally take or destroy the egg of any wild bird. 

There are exceptions to these, but for all intents and purposes the Wildlife and Countryside Act prevents anyone from intentionally causing damage to any active nest, removing any active nest or removing any birds or eggs from any nests. 

If we find a nest that is not currently in use or being built by a bird, this nest would not be deemed as being active and, as such, we can safely carry out contracted works. 

If, however, we do find an active nest then we would postpone any tree surgery or hedge trimming or maintenance until the fledglings have left the nest and it is no longer considered active. 

Most landowners usually have a good idea as to the locations on their property of any possible bird nests and it is always a good idea to check your property for any active bird nests prior to arranging tree surgery services to avoid the chance of works being postponed. Or you could arrange for the works to be carried out at a time when there is much less chance of finding an active bird’s nest if you know that a particular tree or hedge is a favourite nesting spot of birds. 

  When do birds nest?
The bird nesting season here in the UK typically runs between the beginning of March and the end of August. But there are some species of birds, such as the wood pigeon, that can nest all year round and many others that nest outside of the typical nesting period. With the weather becoming warmer earlier in the year, many birds have also started nesting earlier, so it is worth bearing this in mind. 

How to avoid any active bird’s nests. 

Before carrying out any work on your trees or hedges it is worth carrying out a visual inspection of them first. 

If it is safe to do so, have a look in the trees and hedges to see if you can spot any nests. If you do, observe it for a few days to see if it is occupied. But please stay away from the nest and do not interfere with it. If it is not occupied, it may be an old nesting or roosting site and may not impact on any works. 

Keep an eye out on the trees, hedges or areas you want a tree surgeon to perform work on to see if you notice any birds flying in and out of the area, especially with twigs, feathers and other possible nest building materials. This is a good sign that a bird is beginning to build a nest. 

Also, do not forget about ground nesting birds where there is plenty of ground vegetation. Any nests found lower down can impact on access to other areas for tree or hedge work or upon vegetation or site clearance works. 

If you cannot see into a tree to search for birds’ nests, conifers, for example, have quite a large and compact branch structure which can make it difficult to see into, then you could cut off some lower branches. This will allow you to look up into the tree for nests. 

If you are unsure about the impact tree surgery or remedial works may have upon any potential nesting sites on your property, it would be best to have a professional take a look and advise you of the best approach. 

In general, it is best to book any major work on your trees and hedges outside of nesting season, to minimise the risk to birds and nests. But if this cannot be done, or you have an urgent requirement for tree surgery or hedge maintenance, such as a dangerous limb or tree that requires immediate attention, then following the guidance above and working with your contractor in a sympathetic manner towards any birds and nests in area is best practice. 

Of course, if you have any questions about carrying out tree surgery, hedge maintenance, vegetation clearance or any of our other services in relation to bird welfare, feel free to give us a call on 01242 621051 and one of our friendly team will be happy to answer your questions.