In the UK, bird nesting season begins in February as we transition to warmer spring weather and generally extends all the way to the end of August. During this period, you will see birds of all species busily preparing their nests for their offspring, but often, this can pose a challenge for property owners in urban areas.
In this article, we’ll be delving into what bird nesting season is, when you can expect to see birds nesting, potential problems that can arise and most importantly, how to prepare for it. Keep reading to learn more.
What is bird nesting season?
Bird nesting season, as the name suggests, is a key period in which birds mate, build nests and raise their young. During this time, you will often see birds crafting intricate nests to serve as a safe and sturdy sanctuary to raise their soon to be offspring. Typically, you will see these nests made from sticks, bark, mud, spider silk, grass, leaves and anything suitable they come across.
The beginning of the season is marked by increased temperatures and renewed food sources in the spring, which compels birds to begin nesting.
When is bird nesting season?
Bird nesting season can vary around the world based on factors such as location, climate and the species of bird. As mentioned, in the UK, bird nesting season generally occurs from spring to the end of summer (February to August). With the increase in temperature and milder weather, you will find that March through to August are the key months in which nesting occurs.
However, not all birds will stick to this timeline, and you may see nesting at other times of the year. For example, pigeons’ peak breeding season is from March to July, but they are known to breed year round.
What problems can bird nesting season cause for property owners?
It is no secret that once bird nesting season begins, so too do the challenges for property owners in residential, commercial and industrial areas. Birds often seek shelter in convenient urbanised areas to build their nests, such as rooftops, window ledges, eaves and vents. Whilst this may seem harmless, it can lead to a number of issues:
Damage to Property
When nesting materials, bird droppings and other debris build up on your property, you may notice that vents are blocked, gutters aren’t draining, and roof materials have been damaged. If left long enough, these issues will begin to compromise the integrity of your structure.
Disturbances
Whilst many people enjoy the sound of bird song, others feel that the continuous chirping and fluttering wings are anything but enjoyable. Over time, the increased bird activity may become a problem for property owners and their occupants.
Health Hazard
If large numbers of birds congregate in one area, their droppings may start to pose a risk to human health. Bird droppings can carry pathogens, and if they begin to build up in urban areas where people live and work, it can become an issue.
Legal Issues
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 allows all birds, their nests and eggs in the UK to be legally protected. As such, it can be challenging to deal with birds when they start to nest on your property, and you may need to employ the services of our bird control team.
How to prepare for bird nesting season
There are several proactive steps that property owners can take to prepare for the nesting season to ensure their property is protected:
Inspections
Carrying out an inspection of your property as winter comes to an end will help you identify any potential nesting sites. From there, you can address these areas of risk and prevent birds from roosting and nesting.
Deterrents
In our experience, deterrents are one of the most effective methods of ensuring birds stay away from your property. There are a range of humane bird deterrents that we regularly suggest and install for customers, such as audio and visual deterrents, physical barriers such as bird spikes and bird netting, as well as falconry deterrents.
Maintenance
We always recommend that, ahead of the nesting season, gutters, vents and other potential nesting areas are thoroughly cleaned to make your property less attractive to nesting birds.
Speak to our team
If you’re unsure about the best course of action when it comes to preparing for bird nesting season, we always recommend contacting our Urban Hawks team, who can assist and advise you.
Problem Bird Nesting Solutions from Urban Hawks
For over 25 years, we have been proud to provide bird nesting solutions for clients throughout the UK. Our team of highly trained bird specialists understands the challenges posed by nesting season and the steps that can be taken to avoid future problems on your property.
Over the years, we have worked with clients from all backgrounds but have found that nesting birds can become an issue on development projects being undertaken during the bird nesting season. By implementing our Bird Proofing solutions and our Falconry Dispersal and Disruption programs, our team has quickly resolved all pest bird problems and stopped nesting birds from delaying projects.
Get in touch with our team!
We hope this article has helped you better understand how best to prepare for bird nesting and the proactive steps that can be taken to avoid problems on your property. As we move towards the end of the nesting season, it is essential to put measures in place now so that when the season resumes, your property is prepared.
If you have any questions about nesting birds and want to learn more about how to get rid of birds or our Pest Bird Control services, please don’t hesitate to contact us today on 0151 345 6854 or email us at info@urbanhawks.co.uk.