Birds nesting in our wall

lizziem_2

Hi

We have a grating in our bedroom wall, quite high up, above the top of the built-in wardrobe. On the other side of it is a pipe protruding from the wall. Some birds have started to get in there. What is supposed to be on the other side of a grating? Having an open pipe seems odd to me, there should be something on the end of it.

Secondly, we want to deter these birds if possible, especially as they have started to try and peck their way through the grating, which is annoying. We would like to find them an alternative nesting site if possible. So how can we stop them coming into the pipe? I am not great at DIY and am looking for a cheap way of covering the end of the pipe - is there some kind of cap we can put on the end? - and also somewhere to get cheap birdboxes which we can attach to the wall nearby so they still have somewhere to nest and can avoid the neighbours' cats.

Imp

Don't forget, disturbing nesting birds is a criminal offence. What ever you do, you will need to wait until the nest is empty in late summer.

ormus

dont cap off the pipe until you know what it is or does. better to cover it with metal mesh and tape it round the pipe.
for the bedroom grating, cover it with a piece of metal and tape it up as a temp measure.
(duct tape).

lizziem_2

I didn't know that, Imp, thanks for telling me. I don't want to disturb it. But I am unsure if it has actually started to nest yet. If it has not, I would rather establish a proper nesting box as this would be more comfortable for the bird than the pipe.

Thanks Ormus, I will take your advice.

DVardysShadow

lizziem wrote: »

I didn't know that, Imp, thanks for telling me. I don't want to disturb it. But I am unsure if it has actually started to nest yet. If it has not, I would rather establish a proper nesting box as this would be more comfortable for the bird than the pipe.

Thanks Ormus, I will take your advice.

We are already into the nesting season. Birdy has made its mind up, so you are too late for this season - and having made its mind up, birdy will not be persuaded that your nesting box is more comfortable this season.

sheslookinhot

DVardysShadow wrote: »

We are already into the nesting season. Birdy has made its mind up, so you are too late for this season - and having made its mind up, birdy will not be persuaded that your nesting box is more comfortable this season.

It might if there is no nest in the pipe.

DVardysShadow

sheslookinhot wrote: »

In response to birdy will not be persuaded that your nesting box is more comfortable this season.

It might if there is no nest in the pipe.

Honestly, you are too late for this season. Birdy will be forming eggs and the hormones are there for nest building. If you disrupt the nest building, it will end up ready to lay with no nest and you will have lost its brood. Please don't do this, just leave it for 8 to 10 weeks and you can have your pipe back.

susieb1967

I lay in bed the other morning only to be woken by lots of annoying tweeting, I mean it went on and on. Gave up on lie in and later in the day I noticed sparrows flying in and out of my eaves just above my window. I actually thought it was quite cute and am ok with them waking me up now!! Hopefully they won't be doing any damage!!