bird buddies

[send-more-cops.livejournal.com]

i'm wondering if anyone has some advice for me. i've been lazy and haven't removed the air conditioner out of one of the rooms in the house. i've often noticed birds bouncing around and generally hanging out around the
a/c.
the other day i noticed one of them crawl out from under (where the a/c hangs over the window frame) with a string in his mouth. F, they're building a nest.

i need to take that a/c out but i have this mental image of the little birds on the other side of the window with really big eyes and one little tear.

will they be able to rebuild? any ideas?

Comments

[medyani.livejournal.com]

This isn't a "season" for birds as an earlier poster suggested. Nests are not homes they are "nurseries" -- with scant few exceptions for winter roosting sites -- in other words, you won't be endangering anything or disturbing anything that can't be rebuilt. FYI, the birds you are dealing with are likely English Sparrows; they are cavity nesters, hence the use of crevices and urban "holes" such as heat pipes and clothing drier exhaust pipes. In US urban areas, English Sparrows have supplanted most native cavity nesters (to the detriment of the natives-- chickadees, bluebirds, titmice, etc. hence English Sparrows are designated as an "invasive" species) -- although, understandably, this won't assuage your feelings of concern. A small creature is a small creature.

If you don't suddenly yank out the AC (fairly impossible with any AC unless you're a superhero!), the birds should be fine. The pair or family colony will likely give you a good scolding, but then look elsewhere. In point of fact, it's a good idea to do it sooner than later, preferably on a dry day.