You could have spotted little nests or eggs hidden in the bushes, trees, flower beds, or even on the ground in your yard. They might look broken, left behind, or out of place. If you wish to help, you can think about moving them, cleaning up the area, or checking on the eggs. But that could be against the law, and even worse, it could injure the birds that need that location to live.
In the US and other places, the law protects a lot of wild birds and their nests, although a lot of people don’t realize this. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) was one of the earliest laws in the U.S. to protect animals. It got the green light in 1918. If you don’t have a proper permission, it’s illegal to chase, hunt, take, capture, kill, or sell migratory birds, their nests, eggs, or even their feathers. The rule stipulates that even activities that seem harmless, like moving a nest, picking up an egg, or cutting down a tree during nesting season, could be against the law.
You might be surprised to learn that this guideline helps a lot of ordinary garden birds. This law protects more than only animals that are going to go extinct. Birds like robins, swallows, cardinals, finches, mourning doves, and sparrows are also safe. The federal government safeguards a number of animals that could live in that little nest in your hedge.
But this protection isn’t only about regulations and sanctions. It’s also about keeping a fragile part of our environment secure. During the breeding season, birds are at their most vulnerable and important. Many species only have one or two nests a year, so losing even one brood can have a big impact on their numbers, especially when you think about habitat loss, pesticide exposure, urban growth, and changes in the environment.
It takes a lot of time and effort to create the right nest, find a safe area to put the eggs, and keep them warm when a bird lays eggs. The parent birds could get scared and leave the eggs or chicks alone if a person or pet gets too close to the nest, even once. The newborns could die in a few hours since they can’t eat or keep their bodies warm. And since birds don’t know what people want, even a short visit can harm them.
If there are too many people strolling by, mowing the lawn too regularly, or creating loud noises, birds may have a hard time protecting and caring for their young. That’s why wildlife specialists warn humans to keep away from nests and not touch, move, or do anything with them.
If you find a nest in or near your yard, here are some crucial things you can do:
Don’t touch or move the nest, even if it looks empty. Some birds that are parents leave the nest for a little while and then come back.
Keep kids and dogs away from the place where the birds are nesting. Teach kids how to look from a distance without making noise or being unpleasant.
If you know that birds are nesting nearby, don’t cut down trees, trim shrubs, or mow the lawn.
If you find a nest in a risky position, like a dryer vent or construction scaffolding, the first thing you should do is notify a local animal rehabilitator or the Department of Natural Resources.
Don’t feed or try to “help” the newborn birds; this could make the parents confused or slow down the chicks’ growth.
If you break the MBTA, you might pay a fine of up to $15,000 or even go to jail. But most of the time, wildlife agents will first try to teach someone who accidentally upsets a nest. The most important thing, though, is to end it.
It is not only lawful, but there is also a quiet beauty in letting nature take its course. Nests are not only practical, but they are also very pretty. Birds make them with skill, instinct, and care. Watching a family of birds grow from eggs to hatchlings and then fly for the first time is a good reminder of how hard and tough nature can be, even in our own backyards.
If you find a little nest hidden in the grass or between trees when you’re mowing, gardening, or just walking about your yard, stop and think before you do anything. Respect the simple building for what it is: a home. Even if your backyard isn’t very interesting, it can still help protect wildlife, promote biodiversity, and give birds a safe place to raise their young.
Sometimes the best thing we can do for nature is to leave it alone.
