DNR shares tips on how to help nesting birds - MLive.com

LANSING, MICH. -- ‘Tis the season for birds nests appearing in unusual locations: think wreaths, potted plants, gardens, and even hanging flower baskets.

The best way to be a good neighbor to our feathered friends? If you spot a nest, leave it alone, and make sure your pets leave it alone, too, said wildlife experts with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Bird nests and the eggs they may contain are protected under federal law, according to the DNR. It is illegal to touch, move or possess any part of a nest or eggs without the proper permit.

The DNR offered the following tips for peacefully coexisting with specific types of nesting birds:

Mallard ducks: Female mallards, called hens, seem to set up spring nests just about everywhere, such as in landscaping and backyard gardens. But humans shouldn’t try to interfere with the nest or the baby ducklings.

“Even if a duck’s nest seems quite a way from water, the hen knows how to get her ducklings to the water,” said Hannah Schauer, wildlife communications coordinator with the DNR.

Schauer also noted that a female mallard will lay her eggs over several days, so people shouldn’t be worried if they see the hen leave eggs unattended.

“You might see eggs show up in a nest but no mother duck sitting on them,” she said. “The hen will start to incubate the eggs once they all have been laid. They’ll take about a month to hatch.”

Canada geese: Nesting Canada geese can also be troublesome this time of year, as they often nest near houses and in parks. To ward off the often-protective parent geese, who may hiss and run or fly toward perceived intruders, Schauer offered this tip:

“Try to avoid nesting areas, but if that is not possible, carry an umbrella and gently scare the bird away by opening and closing it,” she said.

Find additional tips and information on handling conflicts with wildlife and what to do if you find a baby animal at Michigan.gov/Wildlife.

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