How to know if a bird nest is abandoned
Birds are sneaky. Just because a nest looks empty, doesn’t mean it’s been deserted. Many garden birds will leave their nests for hours at a time while they’re off doing the food shop (insects, mostly). Even eggs can be left unattended while the parents take a break.
So, be patient: if you’ve noticed a nest with no visitors at all for several days – and we mean no flitting, no fluttering – keep coming back to it regularly to see if there are any signs of life. If not, then it may well be abandoned.
Reasons for abandonment include predators, poor weather, or the adult birds simply not surviving. With a little light detective work, you can often spot these issues; there may be feathers strewn about after an attack, or even dead birds at the foot of the tree underneath the nest. If you see these signs, of course, it makes it more likely that the nest actually is abandoned.
You can also take the time of year into account. In the UK, most birds nest in spring and early summer, so come late summer, you’ll see plenty of old and unused nests.
What to do if a bird abandoned their nest
More often than not, the best thing to do is nothing at all. Even a nest that looks empty can still be reused, or might be playing host to an invisible family of chicks and parents that you just haven’t spotted. Birds like robins and sparrows are known to reuse nests, sometimes within the same season. And other times, they’ll come back the following year.
If there are unhatched eggs in the nest and it’s been more than a week with no sign of the parent bird, don’t try to hatch them yourself. Aside from them being unlikely to hatch, believe it or not, it’s actually illegal: the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 made it an offence to take or destroy eggs from wild birds’ nests, or to take/damage/destroy a bird’s nest while it’s in use.
Similarly, avoid moving an abandoned bird nest to a different part of your garden. Birds are incredibly sensitive to changes in their environment, and a relocated nest is less likely to be used than one you leave alone.
If it’s clear that a nest has been left behind, we recommend that you contact your local wildlife rescue for advice. They will be able to give you specific guidance relevant to the likely species that made the nest, which can be helpful.
Is there anything I can do…?
If you want to support birds in your space, the best approach is proactive, not reactive. Nest boxes, dense shrubs, and quiet corners give birds secure nesting options that aren’t easily disturbed. Avoiding chemicals in your garden also keeps their food supply healthy and abundant.
Once the breeding season ends, you can clean out nest boxes to prepare them for the next year. Use boiling water to disinfect, and make sure boxes are completely dry before putting them back in place. Your new friends will thank you by returning again and again.
Support wildlife with Green Feathers
At Green Feathers, we’ve got everything you need to turn your garden into a bird-friendly haven. Our hand-built wooden nest boxes are perfect for picky tenants, and our feeding stations make sure there’s always a snack on offer. And if you want front-row seats to all the action, our bird box cameras let you watch the drama unfold in high definition. Nest-building, egg-laying, chick-feeding – it’s all happening, right under your nose.
Browse the full range today and give your garden birds a reason to stick around. Who knows? That abandoned nest might just be the start of something new.
