Grow Your Own Magazine

Not exactly trying to attract wildlife, more getting rid of it ! We have had swallows nesting in the eves of the house for the past 2 summers. In themselves, they are lovely to have - and the cheeping of the little ones is nice. However, their poo lands all the way down the front of the house, and on the windowsills below. Before they return for another year, whats the best way to get rid of the nest ? Can I just 'jab' at it with a big stick and try to hack it away ? Or will they just decide they still like their little holiday spot, and just build another one ?

Is it just the poo that's annoying? How about putting a little wooden shelf immediately under the nest to catch it? Then you could go up and clear it each autumn and add the poo to your compost heap - it's fantastic stuff.

I think they'll build a new nest in the same spot if the old one disappears. They have to nest somewhere and it sounds as if they have already picked you out as a good neighbour!

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Resistance is fertile

I had thought about that - but decided against it as its the front of the house and would look awful.
I would need to find some way of netting over the area to keep them off. Its lovely to have them, I just dont like the poo down the front of the house!

we had the same problem with house martins, when they'd flown we removed the old nests and put criss crosssed rows of string in the area, when they came back they tried to rebuild but gave up and built on the side of the house, which i dont mind at all

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The love of gardening is a seed once sown never dies ...

BEWARE

Swallows and their nests are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird. It is an offence to intentionally take, damage or destroy the eggs, young or nest of a swallow whilst it is being built or in use.

The Act allows for fines or prison sentences for every bird, egg or nest destroyed.

You can try and knock it down as long as the birds aren't present. If they return and start building in the same nest, you're a bit stuffed I'm afraid. You could net over the old nest site (but use very fine mesh, otherwise the swallows might get tangled in the netting trying to get through) and put up a des res like this one in a location that suits you better. They might not take to it, but it's worth a shot.

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Dwell simply ~ love richly

I didnt think you could move the nests I thought they were protected

As PaulW said, it's only an offence if the nest is in use or being built. The Defra website says:

"It is an offence under section 1 of the Act to kill, injure or take any wild bird; take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while that nest is in use or being built, and take or destroy an egg of any wild bird."

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Dwell simply ~ love richly

Take delight in the fact that these increasingly rare visitors have honoured you with their presence!! I would be delighted to have their droppings on my house. Could you not scrub said droppings away at the end of the season? A ladder and a bucket of water should do it.
If you contact R.S.P.B. They will tell you whether or not you can legally destroy the nests.
Keep in your mind the fact that these tiny birds,weighing a matter of grams have flown thousands of exhausting miles,arrived here,built their nests(no mean feat in itself!) only to have someone poke it to pieces with a broom handle. Have pity,please!

Well said POLLY

Why not just leave them be?
You are really lucky to have them....what's a bit of poo between friends???

I'd love a swallow nest on our house- or any other bird for that matter.

Me too.