Swift nest boxes on house being sold (1 Viewer)

B

blue jack

New member

• Dec 26, 2018

• #1

Hello! We have 4 swift nest boxes on our house of which at least two have used to breed in successfully by swift pairs. We want to move/sell our property but am worried any future owner may take these boxes down. Does any one know if there is a legal clause I can put down that says that any future owner cannot take them down? Any help with this would be appreciated
Thanks!

 

Last edited by a moderator: Dec 26, 2018

C

crapbirder

Well-known member

• Dec 26, 2018

• #2

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 it is an offence to intentionally take, damage or destroy a wild bird’s nest while it’s being used or built. Preventing a nest box from removal at any other time would be difficult to enforce I would suggest.

 

KC Foggin

Very, very long time member

Supporter

• Dec 26, 2018

• #3

I know here in the States you cannot disturb an active nesting bird or its nest but I don't know if there are any laws concerning empty nest boxes, here or in your Country. Hopefully someone from your side of the pond will have some answers for you.

In the meantime, a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum :t:

 

Last edited by a moderator: Dec 26, 2018

dantheman

Bah humbug

• Dec 26, 2018

• #4

Obviously you don't want to jeopardise a sale, but find out from the potential new owners if they are likely to keep them up. Also find out if any of your neighbours want the boxes and offer to donate them/put them up perhaps. If you don't know your neighbours that well, maybe even go door-knocking, you never know...

Don't know the facts of how far Swifts look for nests but presumably they would be good at looking in the immediate vicinity. There's also a Swift nesting website I've come across before, may be able to help.

Edit: probably this one: https://www.swift-conservation.org/

 

Last edited: Dec 26, 2018

DMW

Well-known member

• Dec 26, 2018

• #5

It may be possible to achieve this by creating a restrictive covenant, but you would obviously need to obtain legal advice.

 

Last edited by a moderator: Dec 26, 2018

H

Hauksen

Forum member

• Dec 27, 2018

• #6

Hi,

crapbirder said:

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 it is an offence to intentionally take, damage or destroy a wild bird’s nest while it’s being used or built. Preventing a nest box from removal at any other time would be difficult to enforce I would suggest.

Click to expand...

Is there no law protecting the nests of dedicated "structure breeders" off-season? We have one in Germany, and I'd think that as it's based on EU law, there might be an equivalent in the UK.

Other than that, I guess it might be worth a try to talk to local bird preservation people. They might also have advice on how to best "sell" the swifts to new owners, as I'm sure this is a recurring challenge.

Regards,

Henning

 

B

blue jack

New member

• Dec 28, 2018

• #7

Thanks all for your replies. I'm sure there must be an agreement that can put in place between my self and any new owner, especially if it has been described in the sale particulars. I can't bare the thought of the nests being taken down. I will seek legal advice from a conveyancing solicitor.