Coots nest

[Marlene]

Coots nesting on the bathing platform, are they a protected species ?

 

[sarabande]

officially you cannot touch any nesting bird (Wildlife and Countryside Act) and it has heavy penalties. Has she laid a clutch ?

Incubation period is just on 21 days, plus say a week for the fledglings to become mobile..

Preventing birds building nests is the first stage, best using netting.

You are stuck there for the next month unless another bird comes and raids the nest.


MDL Penton Hook had problems with Canada geese about 10 years ago, but mysteriously the next year's nesting was not so successful. I think the birds did not like the netting or the music.

 

[Actionmat]

Coots nesting on the bathing platform, are they a protected species ?

I had this problem a few years ago. First off, are you in a Marina? If yes, then the birds are interfering with a business and they can be moved.
If not(like my boat), it's a problem. It's a big fine if 'someone sees you' disturb the nest.
And another thing, those ugly birds can sit on dead eggs for a lot longer than 21 days, or lay another batch and you're back to square one. My bathing platform of feathered rats cost me a couple of months of summer boating.
Eventually. The RSPB allowed me to build a raft and relocate the nest myself. But they wouldn't put it in writing! I was given an officers mobile and told if I moved the nest and the Police got involved, then I should give them his number!!

If you're not in a marina this could become very frustrating and with summer approaching.......'nudge nudge wink wink'(whistling smiley required)............

 

[prof pat pending]

There's a very nice young lady in our Marina and although she is ever so helpful, she would give you a very stern look if you contemplated moving a nest from your bathing platform.

 

[byron]

I deny having moved dozens of nests over the years. I further deny having prevented them nesting when I have spotted them starting to nest.

 

[Wavey]

I had this problem a few years ago. First off, are you in a Marina? If yes, then the birds are interfering with a business and they can be moved.

I don't think that's correct. Certainly MDL circulate newsletters to bertholders advising they can't hoof off nests.

Saw a boat leave Penton a few years back with a Coot's nest on the bathing platform, together with a very confused looking Coot sitting on the nest

 

[rosssavage]

Had the same issue at Penton earlier this year - did some research, read the .gov advice.

You CANNOT touch the nest once the first twig has been laid until the brood have fledged and the nest abandoned.

They are not protected in any additional way other than simply being wild birds (exactly as sarabande says), the disturbance of which is illegal and carries a hefty fine or even imprisonment.

Luckily (for me, not the coot!) my nest was attacked by either mink or a fox and the single egg destroyed. The marina staff and I agreed that the nest had then been abandoned and I moved the boat sharpish before more coots had a go.

 

[Actionmat]

There's a very nice young lady in our Marina and although she is ever so helpful, she would give you a very stern look if you contemplated moving a nest from your bathing platform.

But what if you had made an appointment?

 

[bumperdump]

If there are no eggs sling the nest off

 

[prof pat pending]

But what if you had made an appointment?

Well I wouldn't make an appointment for a stern look, been known to turn fully grown men into quivering wrecks

 

[AuntyRinum]

Near where I am at the moment a coot has built a nest on the bathing platform of a boat next to the plastic owl put there to frighten birds off.

 

[Actionmat]

The plastic owl lasted all of a week on my boat. And when the Gulls realised they'd been fooled, they emptied their bowels with a vengeance.
The only anti coot measure that has worked for me, is a very ugly chicken mesh basket over the bathing platform.

 

[Blackfeather]

You CANNOT touch the nest once the first twig has been laid

Ahh, but how do you know that a single twig is the start of a nest. The coot might have just absent-mindedly dropped it there without intending to follow it up with any form of construction. Maybe two twigs in some sort of obvious formation might constitute a nest. Or even a dozen or so but equally it could be just any old water fowl setting up a game of pick-up-sticks.

It's very difficult to tell.

 

[Actionmat]

There's a thread on it here:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/wildlife/f/3070/t/41566.aspx

Also a mention that someone with a licence can move it. I wonder if that's RSPB, pest control. Or shotgun

 

[tomcourtney]

The RSPB said last month that a nest is legally protected "if it is active".

They define active as with eggs or chicks.

Interfering with an active nest in any way could result in prosecution and a likely heavy fine for a first offence.
They made no distinction between a boat in or out of a marina.

If it is not active you can remove the nest, even if the bird is sitting on the it.

 

[rosssavage]

The RSPB said last month that a nest is legally protected "if it is active".

They define active as with eggs or chicks.

Interfering with an active nest in any way could result in prosecution and a likely heavy fine for a first offence.
They made no distinction between a boat in or out of a marina.

If it is not active you can remove the nest, even if the bird is sitting on the it.

Afraid not.... You are breaking the law if you 'intentionally take, damage or destroy a wild bird’s nest while it’s being used or built', not just active by the RSPBs definition.

Gov website : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wild-birds-protection-surveys-and-licences

Blackfeather - well, yeah, one stick two sticks how do you tell? The law is quite clear in that you cannot disturb a nest being built... It would be up to the courts I guess to define building or an accidentally dropped stick