A place to learn, share and inspire others to create a haven for you and for wildlife.
Sign In or Register to join the conversation
For any of you that have a dog or a cat, here is an idea.
Our dog liberates so much hair it’s frightening, each year I hang up a couple of old peanut holders filled with her hair, the birds love it (and it stops it blowing all around the garden).
Build it and they will come.
Thanks Mrs T. That's very helpful.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Jennifer T said: Hi Juno, Hay, grass, moss and wood shavings are also ok to use, but straw should never be used as it can harbour mold which can cause birds respiratory problems. Natural sheep wool is also commercially available and makes for a comfy nest!http://shopping.rspb.org.uk/p/Nestboxes/Nesting_wool.htm
Hi Juno,
Hay, grass, moss and wood shavings are also ok to use, but straw should never be used as it can harbour mold which can cause birds respiratory problems. Natural sheep wool is also commercially available and makes for a comfy nest!http://shopping.rspb.org.uk/p/Nestboxes/Nesting_wool.htm
Just to make you all aware birds adapt to what ever materiels are available and STRAW is used by a number of species in nest building!
Tree Sparrows and Yellowhammers been two that I can think of!
I personally have never come across mould in any of the Tree Sparrow or Yellowhammer nests that I check each year!
Mrs T is correct in saying Straw can harbour mould which could have a deprimental effect on the bird.
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Buzzard said: Just to make you all aware birds adapt to what ever materiels are available
Just to make you all aware birds adapt to what ever materiels are available
So what would the average garden bird use if RSBP-approved fluffy wool or BBB's dog's bum fur (!) was not on offer?
Now I'm going to be worrying about not having provided nesting material on top of everything else. Another neurosis, thanks guys... :-)
BB
Many years ago, my mother-in-law gave me four cushion pads that she'd made using feathers from an old mattress. They are still in use, but a couple of years ago I decided I didn't really need all of them - so I split one open and added some feathers to the cat fur that my neighbour gives me, and put them out in a special holder - they were taken very quickly. I've read that human hair is also welcome - but it should be cut into short strands so the birds don't get their claws tangled up in it.
My daughter is allergic to feathers so over the years I have thrown away several feather pillows and cushion pads. It never occured to me that birds might use them. I shall now search the house to see what I can find!!
Badgerbread said: So what would the average garden bird use if RSBP-approved fluffy wool or BBB's dog's bum fur (!) was not on offer? Now I'm going to be worrying about not having provided nesting material on top of everything else. Another neurosis, thanks guys... :-) BB
They are very resourceful and will find enough material in your garden to build a nest if you put nothing extra out. I put dog hair out because I have it. Bishy-barney-bee, I don’t wash mine.
I’ve found allsorts of unusual things woven into the nests in my garden, bits of wool, string, my hair, plastic, bits of cloth, rubber bands (dropped by postie).
OMG! Thank god my dog can't read. She is a working cocker spaniel and as a result does not moult. She has long hair, but owing to her preference for mud, slime and water I generally get most of her clipped about every 8 weeks. If I even show her a brush she legs it.
Though commendable I think my birds are going to have to fend for themselves on this. That or the dog will leave home.:-)
Sarah
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/
I watched a blue tit this morning, pulling bits out of our coir door mat in the porch.
LOL Brenda - that one's obviously going for "rustic country" rather than "designer apartment" style!!!
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
bramble67 said: OMG! Thank god my dog can't read. She is a working cocker spaniel and as a result does not moult.
OMG! Thank god my dog can't read. She is a working cocker spaniel and as a result does not moult.
The birds might not appreciate it but wishing my dog didn’t moult is up there on my wish list with winning the lottery.
I haven’t noticed which birds are taking the hair but it is being taken.