What Happens if You Disturb
a Birds Nest?
Birds require nests to rear their young into adulthood. A common belief is that birds will abandon their nests at any sign of human contact. That begs the question: what happens if you disturb a birds nest?
Birds will abandon nests disturbed by potential predators. When a nest is disturbed, a bird sees this as a threat to its children and will look for a new place to nest. Some birds will abandon their eggs and start again. If a bird already has hatchlings, it may choose to relocate its children.
A bird’s nest is its home, and any disturbances will appear as threats to the bird. Read more to discover why birds build nests, what happens when you disturb them, and what to do if you need to relocate a nest.
The Function of Bird Nests
Bird nests protect and incubate bird eggs and nestlings (birds without feathers) until they are fledglings (birds with feathers that are ready to leave the nest). While not all birds build nests, almost all flying birds rely on nests to raise their young in a safe and controlled environment.
When a bird reaches adulthood and begins mating, its sole purpose is to raise children until they are old enough to fly. Once the fletchings can fly, they stay close to their parents and learn to survive independently before starting the journey anew. what happens if you disturb a birds ne
However, before birds can reach adulthood, their nest is the only thing keeping defenseless birds from the perils of their environment. Further, any disturbances to the nest signal to the mother (or rearing parent) that a potential threat is near their children.
Even hovering over a nest or lightly touching it is enough to signal to the parent that danger is near and its children are at risk. Birds have many predators, and they likely don’t distinguish between humans and other large animals.
What Happens When You Disturb a Bird Nest?
When you disturb a bird’s nest, you let the parent bird know there is a potential and considerable threat looming over its children. The bird doesn’t know the extent of the threat, just that danger is possibly near.
A comical yet relevant comparison would be if a 10-story giant loomed over your home and took off the roof for a few moments to peer inside. While the giant is curious and harmless, the invasion of space and the presence of such a large being would be startling, at the least.
Birds respond to disturbances by protecting their children or themselves. In some cases, birds may abandon their eggs or younglings to seek a safer nest and a better chance at rearing children. This practice is prevalent in birds that mate and build nests frequently during a season.
However, many birds will not abandon their nestlings and will commit fully to their survival once they’re hatched and hungry. If birds feel threatened in their space, they often relocate their young to a new nest and start again.
In either case, if a bird feels sufficiently threatened, it will not stay in the same place for long. Abandoning and relocating a nest is as much a part of a bird’s instincts as the ability to build a nest.
Will a Bird Come Back to a Disturbed Nest?
A bird will not come back to a disturbed nest in almost all cases. Once a bird has abandoned its nest, it’s focused on building a new nest and rearing its children again as soon as possible. The old nest is an afterthought, and birds won’t use the same nest twice, even if no threats are present.
While some larger birds will reuse old nests, most birds prefer to start with a clean slate each time they lay eggs. Generally, the smaller a bird is, the more frequently it mates and the more nests it will create each season.
While evicting a neighboring bird from its nest seems severe, birds are quite used to predators and rebuilding their homes from scratch. If you accidentally disturb a bird’s nest and it relocates, that’s normal. However, it’s a good practice to avoid disturbing occupied nests.
There's a lot more to a birds nest than a bunch of twigs. My Bird Nest Facts article shows that there's more to nests than, well, a bunch of twigs.
Should You Ever Move a Birds Nest?
Nests are sacred spaces for birds because they are where the most essential part of their life cycle occurs. Baby birds require the nest to reach adolescence, and adults need the nest to ensure they pass along their genetic heritage. what happens if you disturb a birds nest
It would be best if you never moved a bird’s nest that contains living birds or bird eggs. First, this act may violate the migratory bird treaty act of 1918 (MBTA), which prohibits the transportation, trading, or destruction of migratory birds, their eggs, or their nests.
More importantly, moving a nest with living organisms poses severe harm to the birds living in that nest. The nest is a carefully constructed home that regulates temperature, humidity, and airflow to incubate young birds properly. Moving the nest can disrupt a nest’s homeostasis and possibly traumatize the young birds.
However, moving an uninhabited nest that has been vacant for some time is okay. This removal may be necessary if you find old nests in your property that you want to remove for construction or sanitation reasons.
Will Birds Find Their Nest if You Move It?
Keep in mind that moving or destroying migratory bird nests is illegal. While no laws protect non-migratory bird nests, it’s still recommended to refrain from moving a bird’s nest without professional assistance.
Parent birds will find their nest if you move it, but they aren’t likely to keep using it. Birds hunt close to their nest and listen closely for any dangers to their young. If a bird can’t find their nest, it can find the chirping of its young, which its ears are specially tuned for.
While it may be stressful for a bird to find its nest, parents are keenly aware of where their children are and what they sound like. A parent bird can find its nest without difficulty and continue rearing its children.
However, it’s unlikely that a bird will continue using that nest after it’s been moved by a third party. The parent bird is more likely to create a new nest and relocate its young there where it knows it’s not within range of a potential predator. what happens if you disturb a birds nest
What Happens if You Destroy a Birds Nest?
The best practice is not to touch or disturb a bird’s nest if possible and to call the U.S. fish and wildlife service if you need a professional to move it. In some cases, however, bird nests get destroyed by accident.
If you destroy a bird’s nest, any birds inside have no chance of survival. Migratory birds are protected by U.S. law, and the destruction of their nests may result in criminal charges. Destroying a non-migratory bird’s nest is not illegal but still life-threatening to the babies.
The MBTA states that any transportation or destruction of birds, bird eggs, or nests is illegal by U.S. law, and similar laws are in effect in most other countries. While the legal ramifications are significant, the livelihood of the birds residing in that nest is more important.
However, if a nest is empty and long-vacant, there is no harm in destroying a nest. Because birds often rebuild nests from scratch, vacant nests aren’t crucial to the survival of any birds.
What Happens If You Disturb A Birds Nest?
Conclusion
Bird nests are a curious site and a wonder of nature. They are necessary for the survival of young birds and their transition into adulthood.
A common belief is that if you touch a bird’s nest, the parent bird will abandon it. In some cases, this is true, but generally, birds are most interested in protecting their chances of rearing children.
If you disturb a bird’s nest, a bird sees this as a threat to its children. It will either relocate its children or abandon the nest and start over with a new brood.
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About the Author...
Richard Worden, a dedicated bird lover for over 20 years, I love to share my in-depth knowledge and passion for birds. Read more About Me and my expertise in this field.
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