Advice required from OcUK twitchers

Father Ted

Father Ted

Father Ted

Associate
Joined
7 Dec 2006
Posts
1,632
We have a Housemartin nest in the eaves above our bedroom window. It's used year after year.
They usually rear a couple of clutches druing the summer. First brood fledged thsi morning.
Here's my problem. Starting on the 2nd Of September we are having the soffits and fascias replaced as the old ones are in a pretty poor state of repair.
As far as I can see this is going to be nigh on impossible without destroying or at the very least damaging the nest. If our Housemartins start to rear a second clutch I can't possibly see how this second batch will have fledged before work commences. I'm really at a loss to know what to do as the last thing I want is for the young Housemartins to be killed/abandoned because of the work we're having done on the house. I should say that normally their done and dusted and have left the nest before the end of August but because of the crap weather they have arrived a few weeks late.
So twitchers, what's my best plan of action?
 
Wait until they're asleep, then quietly transfer the whole family to your anus.

Keep them safe and warm until the work is done, then transfer back in the dead of night.
 
Pestilence said:
Wait until they're asleep, then quietly transfer the whole family to your anus.

Keep them safe and warm until the work is done, then transfer back in the dead of night.
Click to expand...

Wow, well done! Even by GD standards that's a particularly ridiculous suggestion :D

@ VaderDSL. Cheers for the link, could be useful.
 
Incubation lasts 14–16 days & ready to leave nest in 22–32 days depending a lot depends on food supply & weather.
You got around five weeks before work will start, so you could be lucky.

Either postpone work for a few weeks, start on other side of house first, or get a artifical nest & locate it safely elsewhere.
 
Last edited:
Nest is made of mud, don't think moving it is an option, too delicate.
If they start to raise another clutch I guess my only course of action is to contact the firm carrying out the work to see if the dates can be put back. My guess is they plan their schedules weeks in advance so will probbaly cause major ball-ache.
 
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Link to Official text at UK Statue Law Database

RSPB Information on the act

Under the Act it is a specific offence to

• intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird
• intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird whilst it is in use or being built
• intentionally take or destroy the egg of any wild bird
• have in one's possession or control any wild bird, dead or alive, or any part of a wild bird, which has been taken in contravention of the Act or the Protection of Birds Act 1954
• have in one's possession or control any egg or part of an egg which has been taken in contravention of the Act or the Protection of Birds Act 1954
• use traps or similar items to kill, injure or take wild birds
• have in one's possession or control any bird of a species occurring on Schedule 4 of the Act unless registered, and in most cases ringed, in accordance with the Secretary of State's regulations (see Schedules)
• intentionally or recklessly disturb any wild bird listed on Schedule 1 while it is nest building, or at a nest containing eggs or young, or disturb the dependent young of such a bird.


Penalties are

The maximum penalty that can be imposed for an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act - in respect of a single bird, nest or egg - is a fine of up to £5,000, and/or six months' imprisonment.

As you can see the second bullet point is the relevant part for yourself.

Bullet points 3 and 5 can apply if you're handling any eggs.

Bullet point 8 applies if the bird is a Schedule 1 bird (tend to be rarer birds). The second link above gives the full act - right down near the bottom it gives a list of Schedule 1 birds and it doesn't appear that Swifts are included - but - it is still an offence to interfere/destroy/take any wild birds nest. You have to be an authorised person approved by the Secretary of State to do so.

In summary, you're going to have to wait until they've vacated the nest and are no longer using it.
 
Last edited:
@Andy90. Thanks for that. So if I or the company interfere with the nest whilst it's inhabited we're comitting an offence. To be honest that thought never even occurred to me.
If that's the case I'd have little option but to get the work re-scheduled.
 
Nightglow said:
Incubation lasts 14–16 days & ready to leave nest in 22–32 days depending a lot depends on food supply & weather.
You got around five weeks before work will start, so you could be lucky.

Either postpone work for a few weeks, start on other side of house first, or get a artifical nest & locate it safely elsewhere.
Click to expand...

House Martins will often have 2 or 3 broods in a year. You should really wait until they migrate in September/October before disturbing the nest.

Good call on the artificial nests however. As House Martins often reuse old nests, installing artificial nests once the work has been done will give you the best chance of them returning to your property next year.
 
Father Ted said:
@Andy90. Thanks for that. So if I or the company interfere with the nest whilst it's inhabited we're comitting an offence. To be honest that thought never even occurred to me.
If that's the case I'd have little option but to get the work re-scheduled.
Click to expand...

Yes that is the way it works I'm afraid.
 
*Update - Had the installation moved back to commnece on the 30th September, second brood of chicks have already hatched so the nest should be empty in another 4 weeks.
Kids are still at home (school doesn't start until tomorrow). Had a phone call from my daughter to say a load of scaffolding was delivered this morning. Obviously whoever I spoke to and rescheduled the job forgot to notify the company supplying the scaffolding - muppets!
 
yH74uwC.jpg
 
They are lovely birds. Good on you for doing the kind thing.
Would love to have some at ours
No way the nest made of mud could be moved
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom