We’ve had a feel of spring this and last week – frosty mornings but sunny blue sky days. Daddy pointed out a sparrow with some nesting material in it’s beak so they must think spring is coming too. So I thought we would prepare some nest supplies for the birds.
Providing easy access to nest building material means that birds use up less energy and time building/finding and so can use more on egg laying and chick caring. It also means that you might encourage chick rearing near at hand for you to watch.
Some things that they can use – make sure non toxic and natural (no plastic/nylon):
Nature – twigs, dead leaves, dead grass, grass clippings, moss, pine needles, feathers
Household – human/pet hair, wool/string/thread (in 3-8 inch pieces), shredded paper, cotton balls
Put items in a few different places – hanging baskets, fat ball holders, draped over branches, in small piles, in little mesh bags. Seemingly house sparrows select materials only a few metres from their nest. Try to place somewhere easy to access but sheltered from getting too wet. Some birds including blackbirds use mud in their nests so a small muddy puddle can help.
What we did
Last week Luath and I had given the dog a trim (Luath was in charge of the comb even though she wanted me to fetch her scissors). I had saved the hair for the birds.
We collected some fleece caught in the bushes.
Picked up some dead leaves, small twigs, pine needles and moss from the side of the path in the woods.
We then placed them into a fat ball holder to hang in a shelter spot and left some out in the open near where we feed the birds.
We will gather more supplies and place in a few more spots as I think it is only the sparrows who are currently nest building. I am sure the other birds wait until later in March, but it was a fun activity and a reminder to us to be prepared.
(Luath is 25 months)
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