Remove old nest?

[~T~]

I've just noticed there is an old partially built nest in the climbing bushes that climb up the corner of the building in my front garden. Last year I saw a blackbird make several trips into it but I had thought it was just checking the area out. Would it be best to remove this old material in case another pair want to try?

[Redrob]

Hi! Yes - Remove it if its last years nest!
Pull it apart and spread some of the clean material in an area in your garden, if you have one?
The birds will be tempted to use some of it again, as the nesting season is upon us once again.

[healfdan]

There really is nothing to be gained by removing the nest. If the bush offers the right conditions your Blackbird or perhaps another hedge nesting bird will create a new nest. Occasionally birds will pick materials from old nest to help in the construction of their own nest and some birds will build on top of old nests using it as a base. Anyway as you have asked advice I would say leave well alone and observe.

[Kayleigh]

I would leave it too..

[solus]

Another "leave it" here. If you have only "just" noticed it then it can't be that obvious or visually intrusive and it will either rot or fall down naturally or be used as a "source" of building materials for a new nest somewhere. After all, nature doesn't remove old nests from trees and bushes!

[aeshna5]

I'm with the leave its!!

[Wild-Woman]

If it was in the wild, the nest would not be removed but either fall down, rot down or materials from it may be used by other birds. I'd leave it.

[Jim Ford]

My first thought is to remove it because it may be the most or only suitable spot in the bushes.

Jim

[Redrob]

Different people have different opinions on this one!
I do understand the above comment to a certain extent, there is nothing to gain by removing an old nest if the nesting area is quite extensive.
The only reason I would suggest removing an old nest is - if the nesting area is small, birds can mistake an area as already occupied. More-so if the old nest is still in good condition.
Hedge sparrows started nesting in one of our conifers about five years ago. They returned three or four year in a row. The only reason I can say they returned was because I removed the old nest.
I only say this because early last year I forgot to remove the old nest! This resulted with the hedge sparrows nesting else where.
Maybe it was just a coincidence! who knows?

Why do we take out the old nests from our nest boxes??

[nightshade]

Look carefully field mice or roosting birds may be using it, I generally remove old nesting material from nest boxes and blowlamp the interiors to sterilise.
I don't get many birds nesting as big as Blackbirds due to Magpies.