Cantons and municipalities disturb nesting birds – without penalty

Anyone renovating their home during the breeding season must comply with strict legal regulations. Under no circumstances may the birds be disturbed, which is why the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) recommends carrying out renovations during the winter months. As birds invest a great deal of time and effort in building their nests, these must be preserved during renovation work. The same applies to bat roosts. If removal is unavoidable, a special permit must be obtained from the canton and a suitable replacement provided. Anyone who fails to comply with these regulations will be punished with a heavy fine or a prison sentence of up to one year, according to the FOEN in its brochure.

Birds must not be disturbed in the forest either during the breeding season. Section 17 (Offences) of the Federal Act on Hunting and the Protection of Wild Mammals and Birds states: “Anyone who intentionally and without authorisation removes eggs or young birds of protected species or disturbs the birds’ breeding activities shall be punished with imprisonment for up to one year or a fine.”

Nevertheless, the Canton of Bern and the local authorities are continuing to clear forests on a massive scale even during the breeding and nesting season – and are doing so even in protected areas, as was recently the case in the Suldtal valley. For Calvin Berlin, head of the Bern State Forestry Service, there seems to be no better time for such intervention (SRF Regionaljournal Berne-Fribourg-Wallis May 2025). Nor does the Sempach Bird Observatory, which, according to Livio Rey (Espresso programme, SRF 1), is particularly concerned with the protection of birds during the breeding season, intervene in such cases.

May 2025