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Entice Birds With Nesting Materials
Most folks start with birdhouses and bird feeders to attract wild birds, and this is the perfect way to explore the great hobby of backyard birding. There are many other ways to increase the number of visitors and the number of species to your yard. Water is the number one element. Many birds who never visit a feeder will frequent a yard that offers a continuous fresh water source like a bird bath. Especially during frigid winters when water sources tend to freeze and become scarce, birds depend on a known spot for fresh water. Our bluebirds even over-wintered here in North Georgia, largely because of the three heated bird baths in the yard. Oh yes, the live mealworms helped too!Many desired songbirds birds (like cardinals and finches) are not cavity-dwellers either, meaning they’ll never use a birdhouse.
Which brings us to yet another feathered friend favorite. Nesting materials are extremely important to birds in early spring. With a severe shortage in natural habitats, many depend on bird-friendly yards for their residence. There are all kinds of kits which offer refills too. This nesting material wreath is one, complete with feathers, cotton fibers, hemp, and raffia. The Bird Nester is a large, cage-like holder for cotton fiber nesting material, and offers refills as well. Even the Hummer Helper, which is nesting material designed specifically for hummingbirds offers refills.Offering wild birds nesting materials in your yard really helps them to thrive and flourish. You can even craft your own materials using dryer lint, pet hair, cotton yarns, and mosses used in decorative floral design. Use a standard suet cage for holding the materials, or a mesh produce bag from the grocery store (like the kind apples come in). Late winter to very early spring is the best time to set them outside for birds. Simply hang from a tree branch, where they’ll be easily spotted, or even from one of the arms on your shepherd’s hook……happy birding!
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Entice Feathered Friends with Bird Nesting Materials
Although nesting season may be winding down for some wild bird species, others are just gearing up. The bluebirds in our yard are on their second brood for the season. American Goldfinches breeding season is just starting and runs through late July.You can attract and encourage birds to nest in your yard by offering different nesting materials. There’s a bevy of easy ways to do it, and several great products to use. The Birdie Bell shown here, is a versatile holder for bird nesting materials. The beauty with this item is that it can be utilized year round for birds. Shaped to hold birdseed bells in winter time, it conveniently holds orange halves in summer to attract Orioles and others. Spring, summer and winter, this product offers birds seasonal treats to help them thrive and flourish.
The Hummer Helper Nest Kit is the perfect material for hummingbirds, another species to breed and nest through summer months. Offering these bird nesting materials is even likely to bring more hummers to your feeders. Juveniles born in proximity to feeders will be visiting along with mama, and since hummingbirds practice “site fidelity” they’re likely to return the following year if conditions are favorable. Hummer Helper has even been endorsed by The Hummingbird Society.
The bird nester is a large wooden-back, cage like holder for bird nesting materials. It contains a special blend of natural fibers that are perfect for feathered friends to build proper nests. Refills are available for this, and most nesting material holders too.Birdhouses and feeders aren’t the only way to entice and encourage sweet songbirds in your yard. You can help them thrive by offering a variety of nesting materials. And as always, a fresh water source will attract even more feathered friends…guaranteed!
Happy Birding…
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Easy To Do Nesting Material for Birds
You can entice more feathered friends to your yard, and help them out by offering nesting materials. They’ll seek out their preferred material and if conditions are favorable (mature trees, brush and thickets) will take up residence at your place. If you’re attentive and observant, you may be able to spot the nest and even see the nestlings before they fledge.Many kinds of commercial nesting materials are available; from cotton balls, to wreaths containing feathers and strings, to baskets, filled with yarns, cotton fibers, and hemp. But you can easily make your own nest ball using some pretty common items that are usually discarded in the trash.
Start with a mesh produce bag-like the kind from the grocery store. Next save your dryer lint a few times instead of tossing it. Got a dog or cat? Pet hair also works well in the mix! The home made nest ball at left is made strictly from horse tail hair, and as you can see…the birds have torn it apart!
Both non-cavity dwelling birds, and birds who use houses will seek out nesting material to build a suitable site in which they’ll lay eggs and raise the babies.
Birding Tips, Information & News
You can entice more feathered friends to your yard, and help them out by offering nesting materials. They’ll seek out their preferred material and if conditions are favorable (mature trees, brush and thickets) will take up residence at your place. If you’re attentive and observant, you may be able to spot the nest and even see the nestlings before they fledge.