Unfortunate nesting site

[mave123]

Hello, first time poster. I've only signed up to try and get some help/info as I have little bird knowledge but have slight bird nesting problem.
I work for a van hire hire company and have had a vehicle sat around for 6-9 months without an engine, therefore not moved.
Now that the new engine has arrived when we came to move it to the workshop we discovered a birds nest in the engine compartment:

http://i40.tinypic.com/qqo8lx.jpg

The nest has about 5 eggs in it.
We were just wondering when we will be to work on the engine with our halo's in tack. after a bit of google'ing earlier, I read after October is ok
Any info would be of great help, thanks in advance

[Jonners]

Hello Mave. Your bird is a Blackbird and if I was you, I would do nothing to the van, but keep an eye on it. In a month or so the eggs will have hatched and the young will leave the nest. It may well be the case that the parent then also leaves to build another nest elsewhere. I would reckon that you'll be able to sort out your engine well before October, and probably in a couple of months time, once the youngsters have all left the nest. So enjoy having a brood of blackbirds to watch over from a safe distance, for the relatively short time that they will be there... once they hatch you'll be amazed at how quickly they grow

[astarsdad]

Hi,

That is a pic of a female blackbird incubating her eggs. I would imagine you will have to wait 3 to 5 weeks before the young are ready to leave the nest. October ????

Terry

[posie]

Hi Mave, As said it will only be a few weeks, depending when the eggs are due to hatch, so 'enjoy' the birds in the meantime.....Lucky you...Also there is a thread about unusual nesting sites, your pic would be welcomed on there....Posie...

[mrbright]

having just googled this myself, i found many sites including rspb, suggest that you remove nest after the breeding season ie; autumn, so i can see where op obtained her information. but can we take it that this is just a recommendation?

[Elizabeth B]

According to the BTO:

Incubation: 13- 14 days
Fledging: 14 - 16days
Number of Broods: 2-3

Full details here: BTO BirdFacts - Blackbird

I reckon they'll have finished raising families long before October.

[posie]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth B

According to the BTO:

Incubation: 13- 14 days
Fledging: 14 - 16days
Number of Broods: 2-3

Full details here: BTO BirdFacts - Blackbird

I reckon they'll have finished raising families long before October.

But surely if mave is prepared to let them finish rearing THIS brood to when they no longer use the nest, he/she is then justified in removing the nest, so he/she can continue earning HIS/HER living with the van, and the Blackbirds will build another nest somewhere else...(I advise that you don't leave the bonnet up, Mave). I can't see that it is necessary to let the birds use it any longer than to raise this brood......Just my opinion, I'm probably wrong, and this post could cause a riot, I'LL GET MY COAT...Posie..

[Elizabeth B]

I feel that it would be wrong to remove the nest when these chicks have gone - I think blackbirds use the same nest for a second brood.

[posie]

Yes of course it would be better for the birds if it could be left, but IF, the chaps need the van before the end of the season, ...... let the birds finish rearing THIS brood, then remove the nest, they will build a new nest elsewhere,....Shove the engine in quick, while the going is good.....I think this is a *fair and sensible compromise,* with no 'Halo' lost...Posie..

[Elizabeth B]

If the vehicle has been out of action for 6-9 months, it seems quite reasonable to wait until the birds have finished with the nest - then the female can save her energy for laying and incubating another clutch.