Fire crews have been called out to at least three major car blazes since birds started breeding earlier this month. In the latest incident, a vehicle in St Margaret’s Hope was completely destroyed by a fire caused by a nest built by a starling overnight. Kim Patching, the owner, said that it would not start and then smoke and flames emerged from under the bonnet.

In another incident, a Vauxhall Corsa was written off after a fire in the engine compartment spread, engulfing it in flames. Electric car dealer Johnathan Porterfield found a nest – complete with a clutch of four starling eggs – next to his car’s engine. He said: “I’ve decided to leave the car until the birds hatch out and leave.”

Some islanders have to remove freshly constructed nests from their engine compartments every day.



Because of the lack of trees, birds on Orkney lay their eggs in any dry space they can find.



Experts at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds believe starlings have come to view cars as a safe haven. A spokeswoman for RSPB Scotland said: “Starlings will exploit potential nesting opportunities offered to them.



“We don’t know for sure, but it’s possible that one group of birds has just happened to learn that cars provide this and they also just happen to be birds that live in Orkney.



“We would urge car owners to check under their bonnets regularly.



“Bird nests are protected by law, but if it’s just too inconvenient to allow the birds to carry on, it may be possible to get a licence from Scottish Natural Heritage to remove it.”