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All birds will build a nest to lay their eggs in. Even birds that will lay their eggs in a bird house or nesting box, will inevitably build a nest. Birds will spend countless hours traveling to find the perfect nesting material. They do this while still having to travel to find food and water. By providing nesting materials in readily available areas of your yard, you will not only be helping save the birds some work, but can help ensure that they will choose to nest in your yard.

Different birds prefer different types of nesting materials, though there are many items that are commonly used. Twigs, leaves, grass and pine needles are probably the most used items for nest building. You can help the birds by raking these items to various spots in your yard. Placing them under bushes and trees is a great way to provide a very short travel distance to birds building a nest. Any yard refuse you may come up with while cleaning your yard has the potential to be a nesting material. Weeds from your garden, lawn clippings, long dried grasses and even Spanish moss can all be provided to the birds for nesting material.

Since birds, however, will use almost anything that appeals to them for nesting material, the items you provide do not necessarily have to come from your yard. There are many items that you may have lying around the house that the birds will enjoy as well. Dog hair or human hair is also a favorite among some birds. When you pull the hair out of your brush, or brush your dog, rather than throwing it in the trashcan, you can throw it out under a tree for a bird to use as nesting.

Thing strips of cloth from old clothes, or thread, string and yard are also popular choices for nest builders. Before placing the material outside, you should up it up into pieces about 4-6 inches long and about no more than 1 inch wide. Dryer lint is also a popular material that birds enjoy using for nesting. Pieces of cotton, stuffing from pillows and feathers are other soft items that birds will use when building their nest.

Some birds will even use plastic materials in their nest building. Bird nests have been found that were made out of the plastic stuffing you use for Easter baskets and Christmas tree tinsel. Some birds will use the shredded pieces of plastic grocery bags or even aluminum foil to build their next. While these items obviously appeal to the birds, it is best to try and find more natural items to place outside for birds to use in their nests.

As you can see, it is extremely simple to provide nesting materials to wild birds. The birds will most certainly appreciate your efforts, and you will have the great pleasure of watching their newly hatched babies grow!

Learn more about this author, Lisa M LaVergne.
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