Birds nest still with chicks/eggs?

Question

I have just been cutting a large hedge and came across a birds nest. I couldnt see if there was anything inside the nest.

I stopped cutting immediatley, but wonder if there could still be chicks/eggs still inside the nest. I have heard that if you go near a nest the mother won't go back to it.

Just before I came across the nest I heard a bird chirping wildly.

I'm hoping that most birds will have flown their nests by now. Is that right please?

Answer 1

You did the right thing, but if there are eggs or chicks in the nest, the parents will continue to care for them.
Hearing a bird chirping wildly was a way of trying to warn you off.
Sometimes birds will use the same nest several time a season.
Don't worry, things will be fine and you did not do anything wrong, you handled things properly by vacating the area.

Answer 2

Sounds like this could be an active nest if you heard a bird chirping when you were near it. Stay clear of the area, birds will abandon a nest if there is too much disturbance near it..but a one time disturbance will not scare a bird away permanently. Yes, there could still be birds nesting until the end of July...sometimes they may go a little bit into August if they got a late start. I would think there might already be chicks in the nest as it would be late for a bird to still be on eggs..and since most passerines leave the nest at about 2 weeks of age, I suspect they will be gone soon.

Answer 3

Birds don't just raise one clutch of eggs per year. Many of them start up with a new nest when the first babies have fledged.

Simply leave the nest alone and don't go near it anymore. The parents were watching it and if you keep going there, they will abandon the babies or eggs.

This was NOT your fault. You did the right thing! It the birds were just building a new nest, there is no harm. However, if there are eggs or babies in it, any further activity on your part near the nest will traumatize the parents.

Watch the area with binoculars from afar. Your questions will soon be answered!

Good luck!

Answer 4

Yes, birds are still nesting. I have wrens in a old hanging basket, have been watching them this evening, in and out with food. Your nest will probably be ok, just keep an eye on it from a distance, you will see the parents and will be able to identify the bird. Well done in stopping the hedge cutting!!

Answer 5

Hmm... well, a mocking bird moved into a nest one day. The mother lived far in a tree and left her young but if they needed any thing at all, she would come to their calls. So, if you see a tree any were around the nest, you may see the mother in it, watching her little babies!

Answer 6

Ya do not go near the nest because the mother will pick up an usual scent which is human touch. The scent is foreign to them and the bird will pick it up on her young and think it is threat. But what I have seen birds do in the past is once they see that someone has found the nest they will move it. Just wait and see if she does this. Good luck!

Answer 7

It is quite irresponsible on your part to cut a hedge at this time of year when birds are still nesting, hedges should not be cut until the end of September when most birds have stopped breeding.

Answer 8

Leave it alone and the mother should come back as long as you haven't touched the nest or chicks.

Answer 9

some birds do nest throughout summer.i know robins do.

Answer 10

It could be a second laying and it won't stop them from caring for their babies because of humans ~old wives tale~