Removing a bird's nest (flowers, grow, spring, pets)

[fjtee]

Hi. Don't know if this is the correct place to post, but the "pets" category certainly isn't. I have a bird's nest up on our pergola that overhangs a patio where my small children play. I don't want it there, but I fear the bird is now sitting on her eggs. Does anyone know how I can move it and still keep the bird with her eggs? I don't know what kind of a bird it is. I think it's a black, white, and grey thing and I live in the central valley of California. Thanks.

[alleycat]

I doubt you can remove the nest and not have the bird abandon it.

If the birds are sitting on eggs, it shouldn't take two long for them to hatch and for the little birds to get big enough to fly away (two or three weeks). If you're worrying about something dropping down on the kids, could you maybe put something under the nest rather than removing it. I'm thinking something like a strip of tarp that spans between a couple of your pergola beams. If you just "don't like it" being up there, it really won't take too long for the birds to be gone.

I'm not sure what your bird is. If you were in Tennessee I would guess a mockingbird with that description.

[nitram]

Check with a local bird society and see if they can help you.

[andthentherewere3]

Yeah, I seriously doubt you could move the nest without mom abandoning it. It doesn't take long for the babies to grow up and fly away though, and think how educational the experience will be for your children.

[hc7612]

It is actually illegal. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it is illegal to disturb an active bird nest.(The exception being house sparrows). So it looks as if you might have to put up with birds for the next 4 weeks. By then the babies will have fledged. I can understand the inconvienence, as we have a female Robin who has decided that the wreath on our front door, was a nice spot to build her nest. She now has 2 eggs, so we are in it for the duration. And on a side note our house is on the market. Along with the sign to remove your shoes are appy shoe covers, I now will have to add a sign, please mind the nest! LOL.

[andthentherewere3]

Oh, what a funny location for a nest, hc7612! Once we left our garage door open for a couple of days, and a bird (I think it was a wren) built a nest in a hard hat hanging on the wall in the garage. So we had to leave the garage door open 24/7 for 3 or so weeks!

In our last house we used to get purple or house finches that would built a nest in a hanging basket of flowers on our porch. In our current house though, we haven't had any birds in my hanging flower baskets. Birds can pick some funny locations for their nests; you'd think they'd be a little more wary of humans.

[teatime]

Heh, I have a lot of birds around me and two nests -- one in a nook in the eeves on the house and one on my carport. The birds aren't the least bit afraid of me and come very close to me when I'm on the porch. I take it as a compliment!

Please don't disturb the nests! The birds likely won't divebomb the kids or poop on them! They'll raise their young and all will be well!

[alleycat]

Originally Posted by hc7612

It is actually illegal. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it is illegal to disturb an active bird nest.(The exception being house sparrows). So it looks as if you might have to put up with birds for the next 4 weeks. By then the babies will have fledged. I can understand the inconvienence, as we have a female Robin who has decided that the wreath on our front door, was a nice spot to build her nest. She now has 2 eggs, so we are in it for the duration. And on a side note our house is on the market. Along with the sign to remove your shoes are appy shoe covers, I now will have to add a sign, please mind the nest! LOL.

Well, I don't think the FBI will actually come knock on their door, but it is nicer if someone can "live in peace" with the birds a bit. And I'd sure take down a starling's nest if I found it anywhere on or near my house.

I have a covered front porch and the window under the porch have "fancy trim" across the top. One year the robins built a nest on top of one of the window trip pieces next to the front door. I got "fussed at" every time I went in or out of my house by the Robins family.

[hc7612]

Originally Posted by andthentherewere3

Oh, what a funny location for a nest, hc7612! Once we left our garage door open for a couple of days, and a bird (I think it was a wren) built a nest in a hard hat hanging on the wall in the garage. So we had to leave the garage door open 24/7 for 3 or so weeks!

In our last house we used to get purple or house finches that would built a nest in a hanging basket of flowers on our porch. In our current house though, we haven't had any birds in my hanging flower baskets. Birds can pick some funny locations for their nests; you'd think they'd be a little more wary of humans.

Yes, she has a prime piece of real estate she has chosen. I love this time of year. My Bluebird babies just finished hatching yesterday! I love Spring.

[hc7612]

Originally Posted by alleycat

Well, I don't think the FBI will actually come knock on their door, but it is nicer if someone can "live in peace" with the birds a bit. And I'd sure take down a starling's nest if I found it anywhere on or near my house.

I have a covered front porch and the window under the porch have "fancy trim" across the top. One year the robins built a nest on top of one of the window trip pieces next to the front door. I got "fussed at" every time I went in or out of my house by the Robins family.

Yes, I think the FBI and Interpol are probably busy. LOL. I agree wholeheartedly about removing the European Starling and also House Sparrow nests. They were introduced and are not protected, and pose a real threat to our native cavity nesters. I do what I can to reduce the HOSP population around our property.