Removing the Inconvenient Bird Nest

Shortly after discovering a bird nest being built in your gutters or under your deck, the initial fascination may be replaced with irritation and distress. Will the nest building cause damage to your home? Will the birds ever leave? If the nest is being built just above your bedroom, the night time flutter might be disruptive to your sleep. What is the best way to protect a bird’s home while maintaining your own?

Though an inconveniently located bird nest can be a nuisance, remember that birds are not pests, but are part of wildlife. While your initial impulse might be to just get rid of the nest, the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 makes it illegal to destroy nests with birds or eggs in them. This means if you find a nest that is active, unless you get a permit to do so (not so easy), you legally have to wait the four to six weeks in which it usually takes young birds to migrate before you can remove the nest.

However, if the nest is under construction, that is the legal and best time to remove it. You can either do this yourself or contact your local chapter of the National Audubon Society or some other bird or nature conservancy for help with this. If you want to remove the nest yourself, here are some practical steps you can follow:

Use a secure ladder (if necessary) to view the nest to determine whether or not it is active (contains eggs or birds.) Know that a protective mama bird might attack you if the nest is active, so be careful.
If the nest is inactive, remove it while wearing protective gloves in order to keep yourself safe from any bacteria or disease the nest may be hosting.
Be sure to remove the whole nest from the bottom; this may require the use of gardening shears or a pocket knife in order to get out any tangled twigs and materials.
Discard the nest by placing it in a plastic bag and throwing it in a garbage can with a secure lid.

If you notice nests are frequently built in the same spot on your home, you may want to purchase a cat or owl statue near that location. As they are natural bird predators, they function much as scarecrows do, discouraging roosting where it isn’t wanted.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Elizabeth M.

12:35PM PDT on Apr 8, 2012

I would never remove a birds nest. They are only in them for such a short time, until the babies are ready to open their wings and fly. So much entertainment!! I had bought a water fountain that flows downward and water is sent back up with pump...for decoration, and the sound of flowing water.. well much to my surprise the birds love it!!

send a green star

David N.

12:10PM PST on Dec 25, 2011

I'd love to find a nest but having never lived without a cat, birds tend to shy away from my home. I'm glad, and very surprised, to hear it's illegal to remove an active nest. I don't see how this could be enforced (sadly, since there are many Faith B-types out there), but it's still nice to know the law is there.

gloria m.

11:33AM PST on Dec 25, 2011

faith: what's even sadder is that you do not realize it. now worries, though: it will all come back to you.

Faith B.

12:33PM PST on Dec 18, 2011

I have thrown off several nests from my balcony and I dont feel like a sad excuse for a human?

Nicole B.

4:50PM PST on Dec 16, 2011

I always wait until later fall early winter to remove the old nest, and only if it is in the gutter, that way I know they are gone and there will be no baby birds, as the robins always fly south for the winter and don't often return to an old nest

Nancy B.

7:55PM PST on Dec 15, 2011

Every year, we get a nest on our patio near our gutter. We enjoy watching the birds; we have a summer home, and the same thing happen there----another nest on our deck. There again, we enjoy watching the birds. I have bought three blue bird houses, but I haven't been lucky enough to have blue birds. Other birds use the houses so I guess it's okay. We have to realize we share this earth with wildlife and enjoy them as our neighbors.

Michele W.

11:59AM PST on Dec 15, 2011

I never remove nests! I can put up with a little inconvenience if necessary, as it is so rewarding watching the little ones being fed and learning to fly.

Jeannie H.

12:00PM PST on Nov 27, 2011

Don't remove the nests.Birds don't have many places to go now adays with so much human population & removal of trees.We enjoy their songs so we should give back by protecting & taking care of them.They along with all other animals are innocebt,voiceless & beautiful souls.

Tiffany L.

7:50PM PDT on Jul 18, 2011

it's worth the bird crap and noise to have the birds :) i love watching the little birds take their first flights!

Jon H.

3:47AM PDT on May 17, 2011

I never remove an unwanted bird nest cause the oil from your skin will contact on the nest as an intruder and most of the time the adult birds will abandon the nest even if it had baby chicks. If the nest is empty, leave it alone cause the same birds will be back to roost in it again next year. Just be over joyed that birds trust your dewllings as their home too due to your warm friendship.