How do you make sure that you don't endanger birds or birds' nests when cutting down/trimming back bushes?

Question

My fiance and I bought a house in October. There are huge bushes (approximately 12 feet high, 4 feet wide, and 10 feet long) separating our house from our neighbors'. Now that the weather is nice, we'd like to cut it down, or at least trim it down immensely. We hear birds in the bushes constantly, and we don't want to endanger them or their nests (we assume there are nests in the bushes), if we do cut it down. Is there any way to avoid this or to get the birds out of the bushes without waiting until the fall when the baby birds have left the nest?

Answer 1

Just look around very carefully. Stick your head in the bush and look all around, you might be able to see better from inside looking out compared to outside looking in. I wouldn't expect most small birds to defend the nest, they should be inconspicuous, so checking is a good thing to do. Next year, trim between fall and late winter and you won't even have to worry.

Answer 2

No considering that one yr there was once a chicken nesting at the aspect of our barn and it used our horse trimmed, tail hair so as to add to it is nest. as soon as the chicks in which looking to depart the nest one of the most chicks obtained a strand of horse hair rapped round it is neck then while it attempted to fly from the nest it fell most effective. the following day I visible it striking there by myself and lifeless. It was once like a noose for the deficient little youngster...

Answer 3

you should be able to check the bushes to see if a nest is there if birds are nesting there they will fly towards you as you approach the bushes to defend there babies

Answer 4

Keep your eyes open and trim very slowly and carefully.