'Stop and pop': Farmers urged to check under bonnets over bird-nest fires

Farmers are being urged to 'stop and pop' the bonnet - checking for birds nests tucked into farm vehicles and machinery which can cause more than $1 million in insurance claims.

Rural insurer FMG said nesting birds cause $1.2m worth of tractor fire claims annually, and were linked to about a third of the 100 such claims in the past three years.

It's not just tractors either - FMG has seen nests cause fires in quad bikes, side-by-sides, cars, utes and other machinery as well.

Loss prevention manager Abby France said starling birds - whose breeding season runs from September to December - are "incredibly resourceful" when it comes to building nests, particularly during this time when there's an abundance of dry grass.

"They can squeeze into surprisingly small spaces and build a nest much faster than people expect ... a bird can build a nest in the time it takes you to stop for smoko or have a cup of tea."

She said it meant farmers should check the bonnet - stop and pop - every time before starting work. It was also worth considering leaving the bonnet up when machinery is parked to help discourage birds from nesting.

"It's a quick check that can prevent a costly and potentially dangerous fire."

France said tractor fires especially could be "devastating".

"It's not only that you lose a valuable piece of machinery, but the disruption can have a significant impact on your day-to-day farming operations - especially as we head into baleage and solage season.

"That's a piece of kit that you need and they're not always the easiest to replace."

As tractor fires can spread quickly and rural fire crews can't always reach a property before significant damage has occurred, France said it was good to have a fire extinguisher to hand as well.

She also suggested clearing overgrown trees around driveways as fire appliances need four metres clearance.