Nesting Birds
Believe it or not, but bird nesting season will soon be upon us again. Depending on the temperature, song birds start nesting as early as March and continu
e through to September if warm enough. Many songbirds are in decline, some are in the ‘Red Data Book’ for endangered species, it is thought that loss of habitat to be a major cause.
All song birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, “The Act makes it an offence (with exception to species listed in Schedule 2) to intentionally kill, injure, or take any wild bird or their eggs or nests. Special penalties are available for offences related to birds listed on Schedule 1, for which there are additional offences of disturbing these birds at their nests, or their dependent young.”
In our experience you can find nests just about anywhere. Songbirds are generally found lower to the ground than expected, often in garden shrubs, hedges, ivy covered trees and the like. We find many nests just feet away from our customers front doors in climbing shrubs.
When the clocks go forward in spring and you start to see and use your gardens more, spare a thought for our feathery friends, perhaps just have your hedge trimmed in spring and delay the major work for September.
Vist the RSPB website www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/ for information on nestboxes and feeding.
