Nesting Bird Surveys
Find active nests before trees or brush come down, with a dated record that documents the work. Available nationwide.
Project review is part of your nesting bird survey. I review the work boundary, available imagery and records, and your clearing schedule to plan the fieldwork.
Wildlife biologist · Nesting bird surveys nationwide
- Pre-construction nest clearance surveys and nest monitoring for infrastructure and energy projects
- Nine years at a national environmental consulting firm
- Avian fieldwork since 2013
When do you need a nesting bird survey?
Usually when trees, brush, or structures will be removed during nesting season, and:
- Your permit, contract, or client requires it. Many construction permits, utility and energy projects, and company environmental commitments call for a pre-clearing survey.
- You’re clearing during nesting season. Nesting seasons vary by region and species. My nesting-season planner helps you check.
- You want a record before you clear. A dated survey shows what was there and what you did about it.
- A crew found a nest and you need to know what to do next.
Is a survey legally required?
Usually not. Most nesting bird surveys aren’t required by law; a permit, contract, or client asks for them, or you choose one. They’re still worth doing: the Migratory Bird Treaty Act still protects active nests with eggs or young, a nest found mid-construction can stop work, and a dated survey is your due-diligence record.
Since April 2025, federal agencies treat only intentional take as a violation. That interpretation has changed several times since 2017 and may change again, and state and local rules can add more.
Exactly what you get
Every nesting bird survey includes:
- Survey of your work area
- I survey the clearing or construction footprint plus nearby habitat that the work could affect.
- Nest observations
- Each nest found: species, activity (eggs, chicks, or adults tending), and a GPS location.
- Photos and a map
- Field photographs and a map of the surveyed area and any active nests.
- Recommendations
- Practical options when a nest is active, such as a work buffer, timing the work after young leave, or a recheck.
- A written survey record
- A dated, defensible record of what was surveyed, what was found, and the survey’s limitations.
What you should know before you start
Timing is everything
There’s no universal “valid for” period. I survey as close to your clearing date as possible, because birds can start nesting after a survey. If your work is delayed, a recheck may be needed.
A survey isn’t a guarantee
A survey records what was found and its limitations on that day. It doesn’t guarantee no nest will appear later, and your project’s own requirements still apply.
If a nest is active
Usually you can wait until the young leave, set a work buffer around the nest, or adjust the work plan. I’ll recommend options that fit your schedule.
Outside nesting season
If you can clear outside the nesting season for your area, you may avoid most nest issues entirely. That’s often the simplest option.
How your quote is built
Project review, fieldwork, and reporting are included in the agreed survey scope. Every project is quoted per project, based on the actual time, including travel, and you get a written estimate with a maximum before any work begins.
| Task | What it covers | Typical hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduling and access | Coordinating access and the work schedule | 0.5–1 |
| Drive or travel time | Round trip from my nearest base | Actual time |
| Field survey | Walking the work area and nearby habitat | 4–8 (usually a full field day; depends on the site) |
| Map and survey record | GPS nest locations, photos, and the written record | 1–3 |
| Mileage | From my nearest base | IRS standard rate |
| Lodging and meals | Multi-day work far from my base | Federal (GSA) per diem |
| Out-of-state projects | Travel quoted per project (flights or driving, rental car, lodging and per diem, travel time), sometimes from my nearest base. Minimum of one field day (about 8 hours) per trip. | Quoted separately |
Example: most surveys need a full field day, usually 4 to 8 hours depending on the site. A site 20 miles away comes to about 6.5 to 13 hours in total, plus mileage at the IRS rate. Your written estimate is based on your site.
Common questions
What should I send to get a quote?
The work footprint or a map, the planned activity, your schedule, access details, any earlier survey records, and any agency, permit, or client requirements.
How close to clearing should the survey be?
As close as practical. Birds can start nesting after a survey, so I schedule it right before your work begins and recommend a recheck if the work is delayed.
Does a survey guarantee that work can proceed?
No. It records observed conditions and limitations. Birds may start nesting after the visit, and your project’s requirements still need to be followed.
Where do you provide nesting bird surveys?
I work nationwide. I scope nesting bird surveys around your project location, clearing schedule, and site access. Travel is quoted from my nearest base and included in your written estimate before work begins.
Found a nest? Here’s what happens next.
Start with a safe check of the area, notify your supervisor, and get a qualified biologist’s guidance before agreeing on the next step.
- 1
Assess
Observe from a safe distance and identify any work that could disturb the nest. Pause that activity and leave the nest and surrounding vegetation undisturbed.
- 2
Contact your supervisor
Notify your supervisor or site lead. Share the nest’s location, what you observed, and the work taking place nearby.
- 3
Get a biologist’s guidance
A qualified biologist evaluates nest activity, species, and the relationship to work, then recommends a response based on the project’s requirements.
- 4
Agree on the next step
Agree on which work can proceed, which area must be avoided, and whether monitoring is needed. Before affected work resumes, confirm protections and any required approvals are in place, and document the decision.
No universal nest buffer applies. Species, behavior, activity, and written project requirements affect the response. This is general planning information, not authorization to disturb, move, or remove a nest.
What does “in-use nest” mean?
The 2025 USFWS memorandum covers nests with viable eggs or nestlings, continuing while fledged young depend on the nest. An empty-looking nest still needs evaluation; other species protections or project commitments may apply.
Clear with confidence.
Send your project details to plan a survey around your clearing date.