While it seems helpful to offer dryer lint to nest-building birds, it is not a suitable material for the job. First, the strands of dryer lint are too short to be woven strongly. Nests built with it can develop holes, sag, or even collapse because they lack tensile strength. Furthermore, lint from fabric is more absorbent than naturally occurring materials such as twigs, dried grasses, moss, or feathers. While dryer lint seems like it would make a soft lining suitable for newly hatched birds, it readily absorbs moisture, which isn't helpful at all in trying to keep nestlings warm and dry.
May 23, 2018 |
Featured in: Watching Backyard Birds, June 2018
Want to Help Nesting Birds? Avoid Offering This As Nesting Material.

A lint-filled dryer basket. While it seems helpful to offer dryer lint to nest-building birds, this material is more harmful than helpful. Photo by Wikimedia commons.
What do you think? Tell us!
comments powered by DisqusNew On This Site
Identifying Red Finches added on Jan 6, 2021
These Holiday Gift Ideas Are for the Backyard Birds added on Dec 9, 2020
Watch for Subtle Dimorphism added on Dec 2, 2020
Memorable Spring Visitors added in the gallery by Deanna Mayhew on Jul 1, 2020
Fresh out of the Nest added in the gallery by Deanna Mayhew on Jul 1, 2020
Robin Feast added in the gallery by Tylor Birmingham on May 26, 2020
The Latest Comments