How to Remove Bird Nests
Sometimes you may have a bird nest in an unwanted place. If the bird nest is active, you cannot legally move it due to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (see References). This means you will have to wait for the birds to migrate from the nest, which can take from four to six weeks. You need to use caution when removing the nest, as you don't know if any dead birds or bacteria are present. It's best to also contact your local bird society for any tips or help with removing the bird nest. For example, you can contact the National Audubon Society, an organization that is dedicated to conservancy to protect birds and the environment (see References). To find other bird societies around the world, visit the Birds and More website (see Resources). Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Step stool or ladder
- Latex gloves
- Large plastic bag
- Garbage bag
- Garbage container
- Scissors or trimming shears
Instructions
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Use a step stool or ladder to get to the nest if it's in an easy to reach area. Nests can be found in light fixtures, decks, gutters, trees, and anywhere else on your property that is a high location with plenty of room for a bird to build a nest. Make sure that you're wearing protective gloves; even latex cleaning gloves will work. You should have a plastic bag, garbage bag, and strong scissors or trimming shears with you.
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Uproot the nest from the bottom. It may be secured between branches, so you need to make sure you can grab the whole nest at once by detaching the bottom of the nest from wherever it was built. Bring a small pocket knife to cut any twigs to loosen the nest.
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Carry the nest down to where you can place it carefully in a large plastic bag or wrap it in plastic. Be sure not to crumble the nest or tear it apart. The nest could possibly carry disease, and you want to make sure all of its pieces are properly disposed of. This is especially important if you have children who play in the area where the nest was located.
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Place the wrapped nest into your garbage. If you keep your garbage outside in a plastic can, make sure that the garbage can has a lid. You don't want birds or other animals using pieces of the nest to build new ones, which many birds often do.
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Tips & Warnings
Place an owl or cat statue near the bird's nest to try to keep the birds away. Try not to have a bird feeder or bird bath during the time you want the birds to be gone.
Take extreme precaution if you remove the nest on your own. It's always wise to have professional do the work if you are unsure you can remove the nest safely. Contact a pest removal or bird conservancy group in your area to have a trained professional remove the nest for you.
References
Resources
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Comments
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We have removed a nest 4 times already from a light outside our front door. We then placed a small stuffed animal over the light but the robin apparently took the animal and removed it itself! Any suggestions to prevent the nest from being made in that spot?
