To get rid of (dirty) birds nesting in chimney?

[bbsamsmam]

I don't know if this is AIBU but couldn't find an animal welfare topic lol only wanting some advise about nesting birds as it's getting a bit of a joke now, if anyone feels I'm overreacting put yourself in the shoes of a 7 month pregnant stay at home mum with a hormone induced short fuse lol

We live on a nice lane with houses one side and a farm/field/trees the other, while we have all block paving all neighbours have hedges/trees so we're not stranger to wildlife, before anyone starts to have a go about my question I like having a lot of wildlife for DS to look at through the windows and in the hedges.
We usually have a birds nest is the side of the house which has never really bothered me before but this year they've moved to the chimney and the buggers are so dirty! I won't let DS play outside in the yard until I've had chance to do a thorough disinfection outside to get rid of all the crap (literally) off the toys, furniture and floor, which again isn't that big of a deal as once a week DH jet washes and cleans outside anyway so it's just really one more going over a week but what does bother me is all the rubbish they're dropping! Mouldy bread, food, what looks like splats of regurgitated food, and yesterday I came home after cleaning outside then nipping to the supermarket and thought someone had thrown a quiche at my back patio doors... then clicked - it was the birds! Looked at the baby's play area and lo and behold more quiche... everywhere. It's not even our rubbish as all our bins have lids on and we don't like quiche lol.

I called my dad (a roofer) and said he needs to come down and get rid of the birds, he said I can't just get rid of the chicks and I said watch me!! Since have calmed about it but don't know what to do about them? Honestly don't want to move the nest and hurt or kill the chicks but I'm at my wits end with it! How long til they bloody fly the nest?!

Any suggestions please?

[WonkoTheSane42]

I'm pretty sure it's illegal to disturb nesting birds.

[ErrolTheDragon]

What sort of birds are they - jackdaws? There is some advice on them here: www.rspb.org.uk/community/wildlife/f/901/p/16024/360743.aspx


I'm not sure what the immediate answer is, but at some point you need to get that chimney swept and a bird-proof 'cage' installed on top to prevent this happening again.

[bbsamsmam]

WonkoTheSane42 is it? I wouldn't have realised!

[BaggypantsCrimplesnitch]

Your dad is right. It's actually illegal in the UK to interfere with a birds nest, eggs or fledglings. How long before they leave depends on what species they are; if it's starlings probably not long. Have you got a tarpaulin or something you can throw over the area in question to protect it in the meantime?

[ohfourfoxache]

Don't touch them, but you can remove the nest etc when they are finished using it

[WonkoTheSane42]

Have a read of this. www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/our-positions-and-campaigns/positions/wildbirdslaw/birdsandlaw/wca/

There's something in the exceptions section about 'pest species' but it doesn't define what those are. If you truly want to get rid of the birds, consult the RSPB before you do anything because you would very likely be committing an offence.

[bbsamsmam]

Errol the dragon I really don't have a clue what they are but that site was helpful about what I can't do.

Just looks like legally I can't do a thing until they're all gone.

I wonder if there is anyone professional who could come to look as I really don't know what I'm on about all I know is that they're there?

[Pootles2010]

Yeah illegal sorry. Could you get one of those 'sail' sun shade type things to put over the play area? Not ideal but better than nowt?

[bbsamsmam]

Baggypantscrimplesnitch that was actually my dads suggestion to cover up the baby's toy area and keep up with cleaning the paving.

Thanks for the answers feel cruel now I've read the sites to even have considered it! Until later when I'm cleaning up rubbish again

[Coastalcommand]

They have their little chicks, you have yours. We are all a bit messy sometimes, particularly with a newborn! Be kind to them from one new mummy to another.

[ErrolTheDragon]

I'm a paid up member of the RSPB, but I can totally understand why you don't want these antisocial squatters! We had the chimney cage thing put on after having a jackdaw nest... we didn't realise till after they'd gone, one of the chicks had died in the nest and started dropping maggots .

Jackdaws are probably the commonest chimney-nesters, but the amount of food mess makes me wonder if it could be seagulls - some more advice on deterring those in future here: www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/community-and-advice/garden-advice/unwantedvisitors/gulls/discouragingulls.aspx ... I expect your dad could sort that out. What do the birds look like?

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Quiche thrown at your windows sounds more like dodgy neighbours than birds

[bbsamsmam]

Oliversmumsarmy doesn't it! That was my first thought lol but we're friends with the neighbours and haven't given them any reason to grow last nights dinner at my house! Think the bird just picked up more than it could manage and with it being so soft it's broken apart as it's flown over my back yard and finally splatted against the window (my baby brain took ages to come to this conclusion, I spent too long staring at the door wondering how a bird could get the angle right to throw it at my window haha)

It's not seagulls, my knowledge of birds goes as far as this though, they're back and look pretty big, not the usual small birds we get around here but other than that I've nothing else to go on? There's a few of them, I've seen 5 or 6 adult birds at least all around the chimney at one point maybe more. Someone walking past stopped to comment on how many were actually up there a couple of weeks ago, she said it looked like they were having a party haha

[bbsamsmam]

*black not back

[ErrolTheDragon]

That sounds like jackdaws www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/j/jackdaw/

[Applebite]

If they are big and black and live in a group and are clever enough to collect big pieces of food (the jackdaws in our garden learned how to steal all the cheese my mother put out in one go!), I would say jackdaw or another sort of crow. Do they caw caw caw?

[user1489179512]

It is illegal and you are cruel to even think about it. Horrible attitude.

[FamilySpartan]

Please, please wait until they chicks have fledged then deal with the nest.

Without googling, I think it's illegal to interfere with native bird nests. It may be all birds but I recall reading something a few years ago about this.

[bbsamsmam]

User.... "Honestly don't want to move the nest and hurt or kill the chicks but I'm at my wits end with it! How long til they bloody fly the nest?!"

That was the end of my original post, I was looking for alternative suggestions or help about when I can move them. I've since learned there is no alternative, whether or not you think my attitude is horrible at least by my posting this I've learned what to do. Thanks for the input lol

Yes I do think that's the sound they make, the picture looks like them too so must be jackdaws? Any ideas of when about a the fledglings fly the nest anyone?

[bbsamsmam]

Thanks for all the help posters

[ErrolTheDragon]

I think my first link had some info on that. Depends when they started breeding this year.

[Cakescakescakes]

Wait till the chicks have gone. Then get a chimney sweep in to sweep your chimney and fit a bird cage on the top. We had to do this last year after some beating birds caused a flea problem in the house. Had chimney swept and cap fitted then had pest control guy in to spray the house and garden. Must have been a dead bird like a pp mentioned.

[Cakescakescakes]

Nesting birds

[bbsamsmam]

Errolthedragon thanks I'll take another look at the link.

Cakescakescakes I'll need to get that done once they're gone thanks

[statetrooperstacey]

You could try feeding them? Put some food out where the toys are where they usually shit and you could 'train them' to come to your garden for food then they might change their flight patterns/ nest landings and take offs and shit maybe the other side of the house? It's worth a try doesn't sound like it could get much worse! Try it for 2 /3 days. Jackdaws are very clever they could cotton on. Then when the chicks have gone get some bird proofing done.