Mar 4, 2016 | Featured Web Article

Help Birds in Spring: Supply Nest-building Necessities

A mother American robin tends her young.
Share:

Starting in late March, put out short pieces of string or yarn for nest-building. For birds that build woven nests (orioles, some sparrows, robins, and others), a few short pieces of yarn can come in mighty handy during building. Offer the pieces in a mesh onion bag or small basket. Keep the pieces shorter than 2 inches to reduce the risk of birds getting tangled in them.

Enjoying this feeding tip? Subscribe to Watching Backyard Birds and receive a heaping helping of backyard content year-round »



What do you think? Tell us!

comments powered by Disqus

New On This Site

The Latest Comments

  • Re: Feeding Wild Turkeys in My Yard » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    I live in Southeastern Massachusetts. Four "orphaned" very young poults (males) showed up in my yard about a year ago. They have been around all year. I do feed them cracked corn, and they come when I call for them. I don't want to over- domesticate them, but they do recognize me as the lady that brings food. They roost in the big oak trees at night. I have a 1 acre lot, with many acres of protected forest out back and a pond on the property.Lately, during mating season, I have had hens in the yard too. We've counted as many as 7 Toms and hens, but today, had just the one stalwart (a very robust Tom) that comes everyday. One of the Toms that has recently made an appearance is wounded, limping with an obvious predator wound. The local wildlife experts say he should make a full recovery, and that he's best left to recover with his flock.I find them to be interesting and beautiful birds.
    by Heather Cole, Mon, 06 Apr 2020
  • Re: 8 Common Bird-feeding Myths Debunked » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    You have to put food in it.
    by Truckee Man, Mon, 06 Apr 2020
  • Re: Why Do Birds Sing? » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    Love listeningto both songs and calls from birds in our woody neighborhood. The two types of birds I immediately recognize are the cardinals and the chickadees. Yesterday afternoon too, I heard a woodpecker. Then it’s time to check the birdfeeders and the birdbath. Then In no time at all the cardinals and chickadees arrive, as if they had been watching me. As it gets busier around the feeders, I also hear thé screeching of the blue jays. I even saw a couple of robins checking out our lawn....spring has arrived as the last pat gesofisticeerde snow and ice melt away.
    by louisabt, Sun, 08 Mar 2020
  • Re: It's Always a Good Time for a Nest Box! » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    I am wondering about existing nests for Phoebes. I have two outdoor aisle entries to my barn and there are old Phoebe nests up. They ignore them each year and build new nests adjacent to the old, but space is running out. Should I knock down the old nests so they can rebuild?
    by [email protected], Sun, 02 Feb 2020
  • Re: It's Always a Good Time for a Nest Box! » Watching Backyard Birds.com
    Just wondering, should we put anything in the bottom of the box...twigs, clippings, leaves....anything at all?
    by Hebb, Tue, 28 Jan 2020