Bob
Thanks for the thorough reply! I wonder what might happen if I put a few wads
of shedded orange cat hair (from 3 of our indoor squad) out? Maybe an
enterprising builder will take some of it home for a trophy. :)
doug
Morgan/Magoffin line
From: "Bob Peak" <mtman1@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Birdky" <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "DOUGLAS HENNIG" <hennig@xxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2020 11:46:29 AM
Subject: Re: [birdky] Does anyone provide nesting materials?
Hi, Doug.
For the past 30+ years, my wife and I have been monitoring/managing nest boxes
for bluebirds and six other species of cavity-nesting birds (including titmice
). I would recommend any natural materials that biodegrade in a month or
less---the approximate nesting period for most songbirds (incubation period and
nestling period combined). Bluebird nests are made almost exclusively of dried
grasses or pine needles. Some of the other birds (titmice, Carolina wrens)
incorporate dead leaves into their nests. (And, titmice and Great-Crested
Flycatchers may put pieces of sloughed-off snake skin in their nests, too.)
Most birds are pretty efficient at finding the things they need for nest
building, but we can certainly help them by leaving dried grasses, leaves, pine
needles, etc. in some areas of our yards. (Sometimes, having a pristine or
"postcard" yard is not necessarily a good thing. )
In my opinion, all plasticized materials should be avoided. (Frankly, cotton
string and other "natural" fibers could pose a danger, too.) During our tenure,
I can remember finding at least three female bluebirds that became entangled in
plastic twine (i.e., the orange-colored twine used to hold hay bales together)
or monofilament fishing line the female birds had incorporated in their
nests...end result---the adult birds perished and their eggs did not hatch. In
other instances, I have removed monofilament fishing line from many, many nest
cups (particularly in Prothonotary Warbler nests) before the materials could
endanger the adult birds or their nestlings. (I can also recall an incident
where an entire nest cup in a bluebird nest consisted of a large, flattened wad
of monofilament line---if I had not intervened, I believe birds most certainly
would have perished in that nest box, too.)
I've probably mentioned things you already know...if so, please excuse the
repetition. Thanks for helping our feathered friends!
Cordially,
Bob Peak
Trigg County, KY
On Saturday, April 25, 2020, 9:23:42 AM CDT, DOUGLAS HENNIG <hennig@xxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Friends
Weeks ago I used a piece of a broken leather shoelace to tie some lightweight
garden fencing together. Since then I've noticed several birds harvesting the
fuzzy fibers from the end of the lace--presumably for their nests. Species I've
seen include Titmouse and a small grayish bird that I'll assume was a vireo.
Do any of you provide materials for nesting birds to use? If yes, what have you
used successfully and are there any things that should be avoided?
Thanks and excuse me if this has been covered recently in other messages.
Doug Hennig
Magoffin/Morgan line near Caney
