Neighbour destroying nests

[Deadringer]

I am livid! Not a word I normally use, but I really am livid. We were away for a week and when we returned we noticed that a couple of our trees looked a fair bit sparser than they had previously. Our neighbour is always cutting something out in his garden and has form for being a complete idiot so we supposed that he cut the trees back while we were away to make things look a bit tidier. However dd just told us that as well as cutting the trees on his side he spent ages whacking at them with a rake, breaking the branches on his side. He told her that he wanted to get rid of the birds because he was afraid they would nest in his chimney! There was a pigeon's nest in one of the trees which is now gone, and there was likely at least two or three nests in the other tree, blackbirds and Robins nest there every year. Aside from destroying the birds nests (in our garden!) which is illegal, he has basically smashed the other side of our trees. I haven't seen him yet, wtf can I do about it? And wibu to get a giant rake and bash his fucking house in until he pisses off?

Poor birds. Your neighbour sounds like an idiot.

Isn’t destroying nests illegal? You could report him to the council, not sure what it would achieve though.
Personally I would speak to him and ask that he does not damage your trees/branches again in future.

I would report him for this and damaging your trees in your garden.

This is the kind of thing that our local police have a "wildlife and rural policing" team for although we are in a rural part of the country! Does your local force have anything similar?

Either way it's a crime as you day, just depends where on your local force priority list it'd fall.

It’s a criminal offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The RSPB advice is to report it to the police on 101 and ask for the crime reference number. I’d also ask for them to advise you in a follow up call if possible.

It is illegal to destroy nests. I would report him.

I agree. Report him for damaging your property and I would also be absolutely livid with him.

Is he a bit mad? Why does he think whacking down nests in other trees is going to stop pigeons nesting in his chimney?

I think if you contact the RSPB they will help with advice.

Absolutely this. You can also report anonymously via Crimestoppers online or by phone Crimestoppers | National Wildlife Crime Unit | NWCU

All species of birds are protected in the UK. Destroying an active nest is a crime.

I think he is a little mad. I intend to point out to him that the birds he made homeless will probably go straight to his bloody chimney. I attempted to send a message to the society for the protection of birds but it wouldn't send, I will ring them tomorrow. A couple of years ago there was a pigeons nest in the same place and we came home one day to find tiny baby birds dead on the ground. We always assumed that some sort of natural disaster had befallen them but now I wonder if it was him. I can't believe someone would be so cruel, and stupid.

What a horrible, stupid, soulless idiot your neighbour is.

@Deadringer Just to recap what others have said really, this is a wildlife crime.

Every wild bird is covered Under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 for their nests.

It is ‘an offence intentionally to kill, injure or take any wild bird, or take or destroy their eggs or nest, or damage a nest, while that nest is in use or being built’. It is also illegal to deliberately block access to a nest by, for example, stopping birds entering your roof to get to an active nest.

All our garden birds are in decline so as others have said report it to 101 and explain you want the wildlife crime unit.

The RSPCA only really covers Schedule 1 birds (the most protected), poisoning, egg collecting and Issues relating to birds of prey.

What a prick- I would be round there giving him what’s for- really made me angry that

We have a pigeon nest in one of our trees—we inevitably find one or two dead youngsters on our patio every year—I think they fall out….your neighbour may not be responsible for this, especially if the nest was still in the tree at the time/not pulled down.

Not to defend your neighbour, but if your trees cross his boundary line, unless the tree is a protected species, he can do what he likes with the branches on his property (apart from destroying active nests).

Nasty evil fucker! I’d be giving him hell. And film him if he ever does it again. Unfortunately wildlife crime isn’t always followed up by the authorities. 😞 But I’d let everyone know what a git he is.

I suspect him mentioning the chimney is a lie and he either doesn't like the sound of the birds or their defecating on washing.

A bird deprived of its best is more likely to rebuild in his chimney so I suspect he's just a nasty git.

I'd not be impressed, but neither would I want to be on the wrong side of a nutcase neighbour.

So I wouldn't report. But I might plant more trees and put a camera up (legally so)...

Tell him to get the special covers for his chimney. We eventually got round to doing this, but I quite miss hearing the pigeon noises from the other side of the chimney breast.

Report to the police. This is a wildlife crime and they will investigate.

I mean I hate hate hate pigeons but nest breaking is criminal.

for your little robins and such maybe get a few actual bird boxes and then they can use them. Safe from the neighbour and safer from bigger birds and cats.

What a horrid little man

What a horrible excuse of a person your neighbour is. Can you get cameras that cover your garden and trees? So if he does it again you at least have evidence.

I also think you need to build/buy some lovely safe bird boxes to place around your garden for your feathery friends

Definitely report him, disturbing nesting birds is illegal.
Tree and hedge cutting shouldn't be done between March and August as that's nesting season, he could get a fine or 6 months in prison (not very likely).
I'd definitely report him, he's an absolute arsehole, why would anyone deliberately harm a nesting bird or their babies, awful.

Birdhouses/birdboxes is a genius idea!

Make sure they're your side, and he can see them.

Some of the branches were on his side of the wall, I have no problem with him cutting them back but he was banging on the trees with a rake repeatedly breaking the branches to frighten off the birds and destroy the nest. I have added a pic to show where the nest was. The trees further down the garden that always have a couple of nests in them are much thicker and further from the boundary wall, dd said he was on a ladder pulling the branches from our side over the wall so he could break them. The nests would be very much in our garden, not even close to the wall. I wish she had had the presence of mind to film him.