Birds usually build their nests in April and May. Bird nest may be found almost everywhere. However, if birds lose their clutch (e.g. due to bad weather or predation) they may build another nest and begin breeding once again. Some bird species breed two times in a row every year; in favourable circumstances even three times. This is why many bird species breed and look after their chicks in June and July. Sometimes one may come across a nest with chicks even in September.
In order not to disturb birds, as well as other animals, one should avoid thickets and bushes, areas which are seldom visited by people, river banks and lake shores overgrown with bushes and rushes. One should rather follow bitten paths and trails and stop at places where people often stay.
If you notice a nest, do not come close to it and back up carefully. Especially big birds of prey, although they may seem dangerous, they are very skittish and sensitive to the presence of humans in the vicinity of their nests. Moreover, mammal predators (e.g. fox, raccoon-dog, marten) often follow human tracks, which may lead them to nourishing eggs and vulnerable chicks. If you uncover a nest, chicks may be easily noticed by predators, both from the air and from the ground (among them crow, magpie and marsh harrier – specialized in robbing nests). It sometimes happens that a bird, once it has been frighten off from its nest, escapes and never comes back, leaving the eggs or chicks behind. Meanwhile, frightening chicks away from the nest, when they are still too young to hide efficiently, as well as fly and seek food on their own, jeopardizes their lives – they may die of hunger or be eaten by predators.
Polish White-backed Woodpecker
Protection of birds in Poland is guaranteed by the Act on Nature Conservation. According to the article 27b "all native animal species living in the wild and remaining under protection (this refers to all bird species excluding feral pigeon) cannot be frightened off, bothered, photographed, filmed, or observed from the distance, which may disturb animals in the breeding season".
In order to photograph birds in the vicinity of their nests one needs a special permission from the local authorities (voivode). Without such a permission, birds may be photographed only in areas described in the regulations concerning nature protection as "built-up areas and all areas of public use" i.e. by roads, trails and places indicated as road stops or car parks.
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