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

[yakshaver.livejournal.com]

This time of year, at least you won't be disturbing chicks.

[ifotismeni]

good call.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Call Animal Control. They should be able to tell you who to talk to or what to do.

[ifotismeni]

... good call :P

[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.

Native or non-native species?

[somertricky.livejournal.com]

What kind of birds are they? I'd be a little leery about disturbing chickadees or finches.

But if they're the ubiquitous House Sparrow ("mice with wings"), I wouldn't worry.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

They scraped and saved for that nest!! They put off sending the fledglings to college so they could have a nice cozy home for the winter, secure in a well-sheltered area, and you want to evict them??? Have you no heart?! Sure, they can go stuff another gap with fluff and bits of litter, and be warm and toasty, like feralnerd says, but think of the dreams you have dashed!

(says the person who routinely steals her parrots' chewed-up "nest" boxes when they get too trashed/filthy)

[inkscarred.livejournal.com]

This will depend on whether you are 5 feet up in the air or 50 but you can try to reach the nest and move it to a nearby crevice.

[aki.livejournal.com]

The salt from the tears makes the omelet from the eggs so much better.

[aki.livejournal.com]

...yeah, OK, that doesn't really work, with the tears and the eggs... I fail.

[thedoubleduches.livejournal.com]

This happened to my housemate a couple of years ago, except she discovered that the birds were nesting there because mites from the nest started to infest all of the stuff near the window in question (the nest was there for a while - I don't recall what time of year the mites arrived so I can't estimate and she doesn't live here anymore). So, just a vote for "remove the AC and clean out the nest." The birds should be OK, if mad.