Evicting birds for a clearance job

[raker]

I`ve put up this link:

 

 

Natural England - General licences

 

For info.

 

Some pest species can have nests destroyed under the terms of the general license under certain conditions which is explained in detail.This may or may not be of help.

 

If birds nesting in trees are a local pest according to the license, then the nests could be destroyed as a consequence of the trees being removed.depriving them of further nesting in the future.Rookeries are a good example.However,it is a minefield

[treebloke]

Going back to the original post there is a minimum amount of information to work from or to provide advice and therefore assuming the trees are deciduous and have open crowns then it should be quite easy to see a birds nest at the moment so to fell the tree and record the data should be straight forward and acceptable.

 

If the trees have Ivy or are evergreen this would take a bit more care and investigation but due to the fact we are bordering nesting season will take a bit more thought and care.

 

We are still felling trees and will contimue to do so and suspect most people using this forum are. However, where anything maybe contentious we either look/inspect first and if we find anything which resembles a nest we stop and seek advice. For one tree in a back garden it's no so bad, for multiple trees on a development site we would expect an ecologist to have been or be on stand by and so should the developer.

 

If the developer has not already condidered this then

[cheesmanator]

Thanks everyone for your input. Seems this is a bit of a sticky subject. The council officer (development officer not tree officer for some reason) will be on site with us, so I think if there are any dramas the proverbial buck will stop with southwark council.

 

Again, thanks for everyone putting something down on this. Reading the c&w act, the way it's worded is very ambiguous.

 

Take care and be safe all.

 

Luke

 

 

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[fagus]

Best to get professional advice.

Nesting time varies on the location in the country and the season. Birds when they get the urge build a nest surprisingly quickly, often in three/four days. They don't always wait for hedges to leaf up. After a shower I once saw young blackbirds with a dusting of snow on their backs.

[HCR]

If you want an ecologist's view, I'll be happy to help. I'm qualified (MIEEM) and Arbtalk discounts apply

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Afternoon all,

 

Opinions please....

 

So a certain council has asked us to fell some trees and leave them before the birds are nesting. This is for a major house building firm. No word of a bird survey at all. Now I thought we had come into nesting season and this sort of thing was frowned upon. What should one do in such a situation, when the council officer is telling you to get them down???

 

 

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Apologies all if I'm "late to the party...AGAIN" and quoting previously advised stuff.

 

In all honesty much work still occurs at this time of year, and indeed beyond, but usually under the watchful eye of an ecologist...doo you know one...or is this a development issue for you maybe?

 

This link may offer some further guidance but not particularly helpful to allow works to proceed. TDA 108a Trees Hedges, Birds and the Law

 

Lastly, please be aware that instruction to undertake the works from a Local Authority may mitigate the situation but wouldn't be, or unlikely to be, a defense...tread very carefully.

 

Cheers..

Paul

[458 Lott]

All arborists need to know the law the links have been highlighted by other posters

All arborists need to do sweeps for birds and bats and other protected species the reason for this is obvious to see what is there

This when recorded provides the proof that reasonable care was taken to prevent any breaches in law

You then can demonstrate that you have not behaved recklessly this is how the law has been strengthen

You do not need to be a ecologist

This is best practice

There is nothing wrong with doing your own sweeps its a risk assessment

[Old WoodChip]

So much depends on local circumstances, are there Rooks, Crows, Magpies around? if so they are building right now, could even have early Blackbirds in bushes below and it is illegal to disturb any nest in use or nesting birds.

It's all very well for someone else to tell you go ahead and cut, they are irresponsible and will not help you out with your heavy fine. And if at any time in the future you may have to fill in forms that has a question "have you been convicted of a wildlife crime" your stuffed.

Get in touch with the powers that be, you can always check with the BTO or RSPB

Even the forestry commission should be able to advise if only in a limited way like point you in the right direction.

Check and make sure before you start a saw, you will surely be watched by someone and its not worth the risk.

Wildlife are getting getting hit hard by development, pesticides & humans with no thought of tomorrow. Just look at the facts; house sparrows & starlings once so very common but are both on the red list!!