Exclusive: RSPCA contact Nabarro staff for interfering with magpies
18 May 2012
Staff at Nabarro's Sheffield office have found themselves in hot water after removing a magpie nest from a balcony.

A mating pair of magpies set up a nest in the roof of the office earlier this year, only for it to be removed by the facilities team. A twitcher at the firm says that staff were shocked: the magpies were causing no harm and there was some interest in the office as to the progress of the nest building.

The firm installed pigeon spikes to prevent the couple returning, but to no avail. The pair built over the spikes, and the nest was removed again.

A worried magpie yesterday

 
However, third time lucky: the birds are now back and building with a vengeance. Rumour has it that the RSPCA has contacted facilities team about the nest removal. As one wag says, with corporate colours of black and white, the firm should be adopting the magpies. As it is, they may find themselves facing criminal charges*.

A spokesman said that "Protected birds of any species, particularly those flying our corporate colours, are always welcome to nest at Nabarro. In this case the law is also black and white. Active nests may be removed, if they pose a public health or safety threat. We are looking into the matter. No eggs are present, but we fully appreciate that two twigs do an active nest make, according to the law."


*The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence intentionally to take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird whilst it is in use or being built - with some exceptions.