Cutting hedge with nest in it (2 Viewers)

[RedJango]

I think I have blackbirds nesting in my side hedge - I say that as I have seen a female dashing in and out with twigs and straw etc as the male keeps guard, but I really need to cut the hedge - is it possible without scaring everybody involved, or should I wait - if so, how long would it take to clear the nest if they are only just building it??


I'm confused and no bird expert!!

 

[KC Foggin]

I would suspect that there are some laws in place regarding disturbing nesting birds. I'm not sure what schedule your Blackbird is listed in. Hopefully, someone from your neck of the woods will have some answers for you shortly. But irregardless of laws, it would just be the right thing to do to wait for the birds to finish their nesting process.

 

[KnockerNorton]

It would be illegal to damage or destroy the nest while it's in use or being built.

Could you cut the hedge but leave a couple of feet uncut either side of the nest? That should be ok, as long as it's just a minor trim and you're not cutting loads off it. If you're doing a major cut, leave as much as you can either side.

If they're only just laying/building, it will be about 6 weeks til it's all over.

If you crouch down and look up through the hedge, you should be able to find it. You can check if the female is sitting - you can often see the tail sticking out. If so, she's incubating. Key times to avoid disturbing the nest are during laying and early incubation (incubation takes a fortnight) and also for the few days before the young leave the nest (about 2 and a half weeks later), as the young are very likely to jump out of the nest before they're ready if they think they're under threat. Be aware that the chicks leave the nest before they look ready anyway, and will be hidden nearby on the ground looking lost and calling, but this is normal.

You can then cut the rest of the hedge once they've left (in about 6 weeks)

 

[citrinella]

Could you cut the hedge but leave a couple of feet uncut either side of the nest? That should be ok, as long as it's just a minor trim and you're not cutting loads off it. If you're doing a major cut, leave as much as you can either side.

I think Poecile probably meant, but the wording isn't very emphatic, that it's also important to leave plenty cover over the top. One of the main reasons these birds nest in hedges is for protection from predators, so it is important to leave plenty protection all round the nest or magpies or whatever will be in like a flash.

Delay cutting as long as you can because other birds may well start nesting. I had a situation a few years ago where the council highways served a notice on me to cut a roadside hedge (for all the wrong reasons of course) in May or June. I did manage to persuade them to let me leave it till the end of August.

Many native hedge species are damaged by summer cutting. For this, providing food and cover for birds amongst other good reasons farmers are very restricted and not normally allowed to cut hedges during spring and summer. The same reasoning applies to other hedges but as yet rules have not been introduced but I would encourage you to cut as late in the winter as possible. Farmers are also pressured to cut infrequently - every two years at most, every four or five years if practicable (longer periods are compulsory in some circumstances).

Mike.

Competing interests : I am a farmer.

 

[KnockerNorton]

Many native hedge species are damaged by summer cutting. For this, providing food and cover for birds amongst other good reasons farmers are very restricted and not normally allowed to cut hedges during spring and summer. The same reasoning applies to other hedges but as yet rules have not been introduced but I would encourage you to cut as late in the winter as possible. Farmers are also pressured to cut infrequently - every two years at most, every four or five years if practicable (longer periods are compulsory in some circumstances).

Mike.

Competing interests : I am a farmer.

Instead of that negative wording, you could just say "farmers are paid to..."! There is no law against cutting whenever you want, but if you want the public's money then the public requests that you follow the guidelines in place under the subsidy schemes.

 

[Sue Wright]

I think I have blackbirds nesting in my side hedge - I say that as I have seen a female dashing in and out with twigs and straw etc as the male keeps guard, but I really need to cut the hedge - is it possible without scaring everybody involved, or should I wait - if so, how long would it take to clear the nest if they are only just building it??


I'm confused and no bird expert!!

Whatever is said about the farming side of it - PLEASE - don't do anything if you're even slightly unsure as it is against the law to disturb or damage any nest. There may even me more nests in the hedge that you're unaware of, so if you're in doubt then hang fire until the season is over.

Mike (citrinella) is right with what he says about doing nothing to the top of the hedge, so please leave that.

Our local Council hacked all the trees out of a neighbouring garden today after the previous tenant had passed away! There were definately at least nesting Blackbirds there!! Then across the road they ripped all the Ivy off of a house wall where there were nesting H Sparrows. They'd known that was a possible danger for 18 months - but they wait until now to remove it.:C

I've been onto the Council about both and won't relent!

Sue.

 

[Robin Edwards]

Sue,

The local council will relent if threatened with legal action for willfully destroying nesting birds when they or their contractors have been told they are there.

A local land owner in the village I live was found guilty for refusing to stop cutting of scrub when told that a Song Thrush was nesting within.

I would suggest you contact your local Police wildlife liaison rather than the council.

Regards
Robin

 

[KnockerNorton]

as it is against the law to disturb or damage any nest.

This isn't true. It's only against the law to disturb Schedule 1 species at the nest. It is against the law to remove/damage/destroy all nests while being used (except for those on the pest list, if you're the landowner etc), but it is legal to 'disturb' most species at the nest, as long as you don't damage it.

 

[Sue Wright]

Sue,

The local council will relent if threatened with legal action for willfully destroying nesting birds when they or their contractors have been told they are there.

A local land owner in the village I live was found guilty for refusing to stop cutting of scrub when told that a Song Thrush was nesting within.

I would suggest you contact your local Police wildlife liaison rather than the council.

Regards
Robin

Thanks so much Robin. A chap from the Council returned my call today and was insistent that they'd checked each shrub before getting rid of them all. So I guess it's a case of his word against mine, but I will get in touch with our local Police wildlife liaison, anything to hopefully help prevent this happening again. The Ivy, a really extensive amount from ground to above roof and half way along the house wall, was apparently taken down by a housing association - formerly the Council! I still have to hear from them, but will include both to the PWLO.

Many thanks Robin,

Sue.

 

[mcali]

I have just complained to my local council (tower hamlets). They are cutting back the hedges in one of the parks right now, despite the fact that their are many nests there at the moments. They seem terrified of anything that does not look as if it has been mantained. Why they have to do this now I don't know.

 

[Robin Edwards]

Good one mcali,

The key is to ensure that the council are aware that they and their contractors are committing an offense once they have been advised that there are nesting birds in the hedge. Ensure you let them know that you are recording their names and the time that you report the offense. If they fail to react and you are sure of your facts, I advise contacting your local police and requesting that their Wildlife Liaison Officer gets involved.

Regards
Robin