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Providing building materials for birds

  • 22-04-2014 7:24pm
    #1
    barneysplash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,205 ✭✭✭


    Hi all

    As a way to temp more birds into my garden, I though I might put
    out some materials they could use to help build their nests.

    I put out some shredded paper, but no takers.

    Any ideas?


Comments

  • #2
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Hair, fur, feathers etc.
    However, providing nesting material will not attract birds on their own.
    Regular bird feeding, nest boxes, water, shelter in trees, shrubs and the likes come first.
    Generally birds have no difficulty finding nesting materials.


  • #3
    Tiercel Dave
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 797 ✭✭✭Tiercel Dave


    Feathers get snapped up 'round here and there's also a good 'go' on horse hair. Dave


  • #4
    jmkennedyie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 678 ✭✭✭jmkennedyie


    I have collected hair from moulting dog (Samoid) during the year and put it out nest building time and the blue tits love it. They might appreciate moss too.

    For a bird like a Blue Tit another key factor to siting is going to be food supply. Enough to feed 2 adults + ~10 chicks. So the more mature ideally native trees/shrubs/hedges in the area the better. They'll be home to the native catterpillars of our moths and other insects that chicks are fed on.

    Blackbirds will prefer access to worms/grubs in a field/lawn...and again the more the weeds/wildflowers the more the insects etc the more the birds.

    Presence of cats is going to be a big no no.


  • #5
    Alun
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,499 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    I've put out some cat hair and something in the garden grabbed it pretty quick, possibly our nesting blue tits. Luckily they don't seem to be aware of who the donor is :)


  • #6
    roweeeeena
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 141 ✭✭roweeeeena


    Alun wrote: »
    I've put out some cat hair and something in the garden grabbed it pretty quick, possibly our nesting blue tits. Luckily they don't seem to be aware of who the donor is :)

    My cat is moulting at the moment and there was heaps of hair on the brush when I brushed him, it struck me as great nest building material so I put it out on to a tree branch -everyone thought I was absolutely insane so glad to know I'm not the only one! :) Not sure was there any takers though!


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  • #7
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 50,895 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    the moss growing in certain areas of our lawn and under the curly hazel seems popular - not that it's something you can or might want to provide.


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