Timely advice for property owners
Be aware of bird law
Perth and Kinross residents are being urged to pay heed to the law when it comes to property maintenance and nesting birds.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW Scotland) has provided some timely advice for the public in Perthshire that it’s illegal to damage a bird’s nest that is in use.
Nests don’t need to have eggs or chicks present to be regarded as being ‘in use’, but may be ‘in use’ from the moment nest building begins.
Destroying a nest while it’s occupied by birds is illegal and could result in a penalty of up to £5,000 and/or six months in jail.
Andy Turner, SNH’s wildlife crime officer, said: “We’d urge people to be very careful and check for nests before beginning any major garden or building work.
“With many of our garden bird species declining, a few simple checks or changing the timing of works to avoid the bird breeding season can help conserve birds and prevent offences from being committed.”
Every year, birds’ nests are destroyed by people felling or pruning trees or doing building work.
Other common examples are blocking entry holes to swift and starling nests located in houses, house martin nests being damaged under the eaves of houses, and bird nests being damaged while sites are being cleared for development.
Safeguards must put be in place by developers to ensure that construction doesn’t result in an offence being committed.
Guidance is available for developers on the SNH website at http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/ A514967.pdf Nesting birds may hold up your property plans, but they are protected by law