it's always best to prune trees or plants during the winter when most of the sap in down. cutting or pruning in warm weather can cause then to bleed sap and leave open sores for insects and borers and fungus and bacteria to attack the open sores.

Good advise, but then allot of people have hedges which needs shearing,... I usually look first.

Don't woody bushes need shearing in spring, before leaves?

Many people may look, but nests are hidden, buried in the branches, and by cutting into bushes, they become exposed.

elly - In some areas, birds are nesting year-round.

If I waited for them to stop nesting, I'd never get anything pruned.

>>Don't woody bushes need shearing in spring, before leaves?I have a small formal hedge and must be done frequently.

Here is a link that might be useful: ALL ABOUT HOW TO PRUNE HEDGES

I guess you make a choice in all things.

I used to work in wild bird rehabilitation, and in May - August we received about 2000 baby birds, many, many, many of which were cut out of trees and bushes. I guess I have a different perspective.

I hate the sound of a buzz saw. I used to drive home after a long day caring for birds and pass people cutting down their trees and pruning bushes. I thought, 'I guess I'll see them in tears or nonchalant tomorrow with a nest of babies."
Anyway, happy summer to all.

I don't prune trees. any bushes I have area short and have no nests. Like Azalea, Weigela and Elderberry and Ilex. I have never in my life seen birds nesting in an Azalea or Weigela shrub. Mostly nest in tall trees and tall evergreens. Which don't get pruned. See your point in the wild bird population, but unless you live in a forest-the occurrence of birds nesting in flowering shrubs is little if any. I don't cut down trees unless they are dead, but here on LI-if you don't cut back some trees there will be no sun for the flowering plants to grow which feed other types of birds. So all in moderation as with anything else in life. You can't save everything.