Swallows nest in shed

garv123

I have a swallows nest in my 4m x3m shed at home, made the mistake of leaving a window open all winter, so thats how they got in.

It was manageable at first but now there's 5 of them in the one nest and the amount of crap everywhere is gone way out of control, they sit on all the joists for the roof, so its not just confined to one spot. Every single thing in the shed is pretty much covered in crap at this stage.

Theres a nest on the side of the house, that looks unused since last year. If I take the nest down and stop them getting back in, will they use the old nest or build a new one?

The 3 juveniles are good flyers and aren't far off the size of the 2 adults.

Bannasidhe

garv123 wrote: »

I have a swallows nest in my 4m x3m shed at home, made the mistake of leaving a window open all winter, so thats how they got in.

It was manageable at first but now there's 5 of them in the one nest and the amount of crap everywhere is gone way out of control, they sit on all the joists for the roof, so its not just confined to one spot. Every single thing in the shed is pretty much covered in crap at this stage.

Theres a nest on the side of the house, that looks unused since last year. If I take the nest down and stop them getting back in, will they use the old nest or build a new one?

The 3 juveniles are good flyers and aren't far off the size of the 2 adults.

Legally you can't touch it until they have left the nest.
AFAIK they will not use either the old nest or built a new one so they will have nowhere - which is why it is illegal to interfere with it.

Swallows nests, eggs and chicks are protected under the Wildlife Act 1976 and Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 and European-level legislation. The penalties for tampering with swallows or disturbing their active nests consists of heavy fines and even imprisonment. So any bird proofing work that needs to be carried can only be done during the migratory process. ie. between the months of September to mid-March. Furthermore nest removal can also only be carried out once the birds and fledglings have vacated the nests.

http://www.wildlifemanagement.ie/swallows/

garv123

Bannasidhe wrote: »

Legally you can't touch it until they have left the nest.
AFAIK they will not use either the old nest or built a new one so they will have nowhere - which is why it is illegal to interfere with it.

http://www.wildlifemanagement.ie/swallows/

Well thats a pain in the ass!

Bannasidhe

garv123 wrote: »

Well thats a pain in the ass!

It can be.

Where my OH works there is a nest in the warehouse. She spends half her time rescuing fledglings who have fallen out and the other wiping shyte off stock before she can give it to customers.

But she loves seeing them flying around.

It is a special sight and the numbers seem to be down a lot this year due to wholesale trapping in Egypt. :mad:

garv123

Bannasidhe wrote: »

It can be.

Where my OH works there is a nest in the warehouse. She spends half her time rescuing fledglings who have fallen out and the other wiping shyte off stock before she can give it to customers.

But she loves seeing them flying around.

It is a special sight and the numbers seem to be down a lot this year due to wholesale trapping in Egypt. :mad:

They go mad when you walk into the shed, flying everywhere and you end up getting crapped on in the process too!!

gozunda

garv123 wrote: »

I have a swallows nest in my 4m x3m shed at home, made the mistake of leaving a window open all winter, so thats how they got in.

It was manageable at first but now there's 5 of them in the one nest and the amount of crap everywhere is gone way out of control, they sit on all the joists for the roof, so its not just confined to one spot. Every single thing in the shed is pretty much covered in crap at this stage.

Theres a nest on the side of the house, that looks unused since last year. If I take the nest down and stop them getting back in, will they use the old nest or build a new one?

The 3 juveniles are good flyers and aren't far off the size of the 2 adults.

Once this years fledgings leave the nest in their own time - then close off access. Next year they will return and build a new nest outside. Though i have also seem previous years nests being reused as well. Best of luck with them

Stigura

garv123 wrote: »

Well thats a pain in the ass!

My ass is a pain in the ass. If he treads on me, he's a pain in the foot. Then, I strike empi jodan and give him a pain in the face.

We've now developed a mutual distaste for each other.



Swallows though? Actually, I Can feel ye pain. Some years ago, when I had lots of swallows ~ before the pine martens arrived (But, we won't mention them as they screw the narrative) ~ a pair of swallows started building a nest atop the fuse box, in my kitchen.

They Literally made a bloody good start on it, in the course of one, hot afternoon. Simply because I had the front door open.

And yes; There was swallow shcit. A torrential river of the stuff. Dripping down my kitchen wall. Right above the surface where I prepare my daily meal. The Stench was indescribable!

One Afternoon!!!

So, yeah, ye actually get my heartfelt sympathy. But, there it is. Life's a bitch. Secure that shed before next year. They'll find an empty property or barn to nest in. If there are any left, next season. Between one thing and another.

Graces7

Bannasidhe wrote: »

It can be.

Where my OH works there is a nest in the warehouse. She spends half her time rescuing fledglings who have fallen out and the other wiping shyte off stock before she can give it to customers.

But she loves seeing them flying around.

It is a special sight and the numbers seem to be down a lot this year due to wholesale trapping in Egypt. :mad:

Only one swallow around at the moment here this year whereas last year there were so many

They will return to a previous nest year after year; a holiday home... Lovely to see ... There was one high in the ceiling in the outside utility in one rental ; such a skilful construction and a delight to see them return. Then someone came in and wrecked the nest
There were more nests in the shed where my car lived so I covered it with a tarp. Sheer bliss seeing them.

lordgoat

I love hearing people whinge about swallows. Literally flown from Africa to spend the summer here, somehow it's their fault for building a nest and taking a ****. SMH.

whippet

I usually have three nests on my back wall .. but this year only the one .. and I’ve only noticed now that there is a nest in my old shed .. through a broken window .. thankfully there is nothing of real value in there so I can just leave them at it and not worry !

Even after all these years I am amazed with how they come back to the same couple of square inches each year.

On another note a couple of years back two of the nests ended up smashed on the ground a day or two apart with a young dead chick in each. Someone told me they will destroy their own nests if they get a lice infection but I’m now sure. I do wonder why this happened.

Oasis1974

Just move the nest when there gone back south it says you can what's the big issue? No law against getting rid of a nest if there's no occupant's.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

No, they don't destroy their own nests.



Their ability to find their way home so precisely is a real marvel. And we mustn't loose sight of the fact that they are coming home and not just visiting. This is where they mate, rise their young and have the most connection with.

garv123

lordgoat wrote: »

I love hearing people whinge about swallows. Literally flown from Africa to spend the summer here, somehow it's their fault for building a nest and taking a ****. SMH.

At least I asked for advice about before going near the nest, not like most people would do!
Not everyone loves having crap all over every single thing in their shed, and its not just above the nest.

Graces7

whippet wrote: »

I usually have three nests on my back wall .. but this year only the one .. and I’ve only noticed now that there is a nest in my old shed .. through a broken window .. thankfully there is nothing of real value in there so I can just leave them at it and not worry !

Even after all these years I am amazed with how they come back to the same couple of square inches each year.

On another note a couple of years back two of the nests ended up smashed on the ground a day or two apart with a young dead chick in each. Someone told me they will destroy their own nests if they get a lice infection but I’m now sure. I do wonder why this happened.

No way would they do that. I had an empty nest destroyed but I knew the vandal who did it. the human vandal I mean. There are no words strong enough.

Graces7

lordgoat wrote: »

I love hearing people whinge about swallows. Literally flown from Africa to spend the summer here, somehow it's their fault for building a nest and taking a ****. SMH.

I know; so easy to just cover the car! Not rocket science.. I lived on the cornish coast years and they were yelling at folk for feeding seagulls as they messed on th e cars. I composed a wee story about it being an offence for a seagull to leave its roost/nest without wearing a bright yellow nappie...

lordgoat

garv123 wrote: »

At least I asked for advice about before going near the nest, not like most people would do!
Not everyone loves having crap all over every single thing in their shed, and its not just above the nest.

Fair point op and tbh reading back my comment wasn't mainly directly at yourself. Enjoy the swallows though, part of me fears they will be just stories we tell to kids who won't believe us.

FrancieBrady

I hung a net around the nest on the inside of my shed a decent bit away from it, and that made them go out of the shed, they still come back to the nest...everyone seems happy with the arrangement.

OpenYourEyes

Bannasidhe wrote: »

It is a special sight and the numbers seem to be down a lot this year due to wholesale trapping in Egypt. :mad:

Our Swallows don't migrate through Egypt - it was weather systems on migration that has their numbers lower this year

The Egypt article that did the rounds was very dodgy and had racist undertones!

gctest50

Graces7 wrote: »

I know; so easy to just cover the car! Not rocket science.. I lived on the cornish coast years and they were yelling at folk for feeding seagulls as they messed on th e cars. I composed a wee story about it being an offence for a seagull to leave its roost/nest without wearing a bright yellow nappie...

Graces7 wrote: »

...................

yelling at folk for feeding seagulls .........

You shouldn't feed wildlife at all, they don't need it

All you are doing is bothering nature

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

gctest50 wrote: »

You shouldn't feed wildlife at all, they don't need it

All you are doing is bothering nature

Not to derail the thread from the subject of Swallows but, in fairness, many species need help due to loss of habitat and natural food sources. That said, feeding seagulls is just nonsense.

garv123

So any interesting one for ye.. The empty nest on the gable of the house now has the swallows in it, the shed nest has been empty for 2 days. The shed really absorbs heat all day, could that be why they changed?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I assume the gable isn't House Martins as opposed to Swallows.