Finding a bird nest in your gutter can create an awkward situation.
On one hand, you may be concerned that the nest is blocking rainwater, contributing to overflowing gutters or preventing the gutter from draining properly.
On the other hand, there may be eggs or young birds inside.
So can you simply remove the nest and clean the gutter?
In Tasmania, the answer is not always.
Many native birds and their nests are protected under Tasmanian wildlife legislation, and whether a nest can legally be disturbed or removed can depend on the species and circumstances. The safest approach is therefore to avoid disturbing an active or unidentified nest until you know what you are dealing with.
Are bird nests protected in Tasmania?
Tasmania's wildlife legislation protects various categories of wildlife, including protected and specially protected species.
Importantly, the Tasmanian Government advises that products of wildlife can include nests and eggs. Permits may be required for activities involving the taking, possession or disposal of wildlife or wildlife products covered by the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulations 2021. nre.tas.gov.au
This means homeowners should not assume that because a nest is located on their own house, it can automatically be removed.
The rules can depend on which bird has built the nest and whether the relevant bird or nest is protected.
If you cannot identify the bird, or you are unsure whether removing the nest is permitted, it is worth checking with Wildlife Services at the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania before disturbing it.
Depending on the species and circumstances, a wildlife permit may be required for activities involving protected wildlife or its nest. nre.tas.gov.au
What if there are eggs or baby birds in the nest?
If there are eggs, chicks or adult birds actively using the nest, don't simply pull the nest out to clear the gutter.
Apart from the potential wildlife-protection issues, disturbing an active nest can expose eggs or chicks to injury, predators and weather.
Instead:
Leave the nest undisturbed.
Observe the area from a safe distance.
Avoid repeatedly approaching the nest or frightening the adult birds.
Do not attempt to relocate chicks or eggs yourself.
Seek wildlife advice if the birds appear injured, abandoned or in immediate danger.
For injured or orphaned wildlife, NRE Tasmania lists Wildlife Services on (03) 6165 4305. Bonorong Wildlife Rescue can also assist with wildlife emergencies on 0447 264 625.
What if the nest looks empty?
This is where things become less obvious.
Seeing an empty nest once does not necessarily mean the birds have finished using it.
Adult birds may leave for periods while feeding, collecting nesting material or caring for young birds nearby.
Look for signs of activity such as:
birds repeatedly approaching the gutter
adults carrying food or nesting material
chicks calling from the nest
eggs inside
fresh nesting material
droppings around the nesting area.
It is better to observe the area for a while rather than immediately assuming the nest has been abandoned.
And even if the nest appears completely inactive, its removal can still depend on the species and its protection status. If you are unsure, checking with Wildlife Services before removing it is the safer option. Tasmanian regulations restrict the taking or possession of protected wildlife and products of protected wildlife without appropriate authority. Tasmanian Legislation Online
Why a bird nest in a gutter shouldn't simply be ignored
Protecting the birds doesn't mean forgetting about the gutter.
A nest can contain a surprisingly large amount of:
grass
twigs
leaves
feathers
moss
mud
other organic material.
In some situations this material can restrict the gutter channel or sit close to a downpipe outlet.
The problem can become much more obvious during heavy rain.
Water that would normally travel along the gutter towards the downpipe may instead encounter the nest and surrounding debris.
Depending on the location and condition of the gutter, this may contribute to:
water overflowing the gutter edge
water flowing back towards fascia areas
moisture remaining inside the gutter
sediment accumulating around the nest
restricted downpipe entrances
concealed rust or gutter deterioration.
The solution, however, isn't to remove an active nest simply because it is causing a maintenance problem.
The wildlife issue needs to be dealt with appropriately first.
What should you do if the gutter starts overflowing while the nest is active?
This can be frustrating for homeowners.
You can see water coming over the gutter, but there may also be chicks sitting only centimetres away from the blockage.
Avoid trying to reach into the gutter yourself.
A wet roof, ladder and difficult gutter access already create a significant safety risk. Adding frightened birds and an awkward obstruction makes the situation even more unpredictable.
Instead, the first step should be determining whether there is an immediate safety or wildlife concern.
If the nest contains protected wildlife and intervention is necessary, seek advice from the appropriate wildlife authority about what can legally and safely be done.
Don't pressure your gutter cleaner to remove an active nest
A professional gutter cleaner arriving at a property may sometimes discover a nest that the homeowner did not know was there.
This is particularly common when the nest is located:
behind the front edge of a gutter
under a roof overhang
near an upper-storey gutter
behind gutter guard
near a valley or roof junction.
A responsible contractor should not simply pull out an active wildlife nest so the cleaning job can continue.
The appropriate approach may be to leave that section undisturbed, document the location and return when the wildlife issue has been resolved appropriately.
This protects both the birds and the homeowner.
What happens after the birds have finished nesting?
Once it has been established that the nest is no longer active and you have confirmed that its removal is permitted, the gutter should ideally be properly cleaned rather than simply having the nest lifted out.
Why?
Because the visible nest may only be part of the problem.
Around and underneath it there may be:
compacted sediment
moss
decomposing organic material
bird droppings
standing water
rust
damaged gutter joints
a partially obstructed downpipe entrance.
Removing the nest without checking the surrounding gutter can therefore leave another blockage behind.
This is where a more complete gutter clean and inspection can be useful.
Can you prevent birds from nesting in your gutters again?
You may be able to reduce the likelihood, but there is no universal solution for every roof.
After the birds have left and the gutter has been appropriately cleaned, it is worth checking:
whether gutters regularly contain leaves and organic material
whether nearby branches provide easy access to the roof
whether there are gaps around roof edges or fascia areas
whether an existing gutter guard is damaged
whether roof or gutter defects are creating sheltered nesting locations.
What about gutter guard?
Gutter guard can help in some situations, but it should not automatically be treated as a bird-proofing solution.
Birds may sometimes build on top of, underneath or around gutter guard, particularly where gaps exist.
And gutter guard itself still requires inspection and maintenance.
Any preventative work should also be done after you have confirmed that birds are no longer actively nesting in the area.
A good rule for Tasmanian homeowners
If you find a nest while inspecting your gutters, use this simple approach:
Birds, chicks or eggs present?
→ Do not disturb the nest.
Not sure whether the nest is active?
→ Observe it from a safe distance and seek advice if necessary.
Wildlife appears injured or in danger?
→ Contact Wildlife Services or a wildlife rescue organisation.
Nest appears abandoned?
→ Confirm that removal is appropriate for the species before proceeding.
Nest can legally be removed?
→ Have the surrounding gutter and downpipe area properly cleaned and inspected.
Need your gutters inspected after nesting season?
If birds have been nesting around your roof or gutters, removing the nest may only solve part of the problem.
There can still be twigs, sediment, moss and organic material inside the gutter or around the downpipe entrance, and these areas can be difficult to assess properly from the ground.
TAS Roof & Gutter Cleaning can inspect and professionally clean your gutter system once any wildlife considerations have been appropriately resolved.
Rather than simply removing the visible debris, we can assess the accessible gutter system, clean it to the selected service level and identify visible maintenance concerns.
Serving Hobart, kingston and surrounding areas across Tasmania.
