Is it OK to handle wild bird eggs and nests?
If you find whole eggs or nests during the breeding season, we ask that you leave them alone, since they are most likely being looked after or used by birds busy trying to raise their young! In fact, for the birds’ protection, it is illegal to interfere with the nests of native birds.
With special permits, it is OK to touch the eggs
and nests as part of a scientific study. If you do so, wash your hands
with soap and hot water afterward.
If you maintain a
birdhouse, wear gloves or use a plastic bag at the end of the season
when cleaning the birdhouse, since it may contain bird droppings. You
can also consider leaving the old nest in the box. For thousands of
years, birds have used natural nest cavities boxes that are never
cleaned out by humans.