Invite Feathered Friends To Your Garden With Nesting Helpers
Like us, the birds and the bees love a healthy garden. Birds, in particular, will flock to gardens plum full of native plants and bushes. However, if your garden is missing out on the bird action, there are some ways you can easily start to attract some feathered friends. My newest garden accessory obsession this year are nesting helpers.They are easy to make, they look fabulous and they’re effective! Birds make about four to five nests per year so it’s likely there are plenty of birds in your neck of the woods that are on the hunt for nesting materials. To get started here’s what you need:
Gathering Your Materials
First you’ll want to either pick up a suet feeder from your local hardware store or for a more rustic look, track down an old bird cage. If you opt for a suet feeder I recommend purchasing a simple metal hanging suet because, one, they’re inexpensive and two, they will be the easiest for you and the birds to use!
After you’ve picked up a few suet feeders or found the perfect antique bird cage, you can go ahead and collect nesting materials. Birds love soft fluffy materials to build their nests including grass and small twigs. However, there are few other materials that you may not think of that are perfect for birds nests including:
Pet Hair
If you have a dog or a cat you probably have A LOT of excess pet hair lying around on your floor and on your pets! Make good use of this excess fur by adding it to your nesting helper; the birds will love it!
Laundry Lint
Instead of throwing away the lint from your dryer, go ahead and add it to your nesting helper. The neighborhood birds will appreciate the gesture and likely add they cushy lint to their nests.
Yarn
You know that old yarn laying around your house that you never use? Donate it to the birds. Yarn is also a great way to incorporate fun colors into your nest helper that complement your garden.
Moss
Moss is nature’s bedding and a favorite among nesting birds. If you live in an area abundant with moss, be sure to collect this gem and add it to your nest helpers.
Putting It Together
After your materials have been collected, you can go ahead and pack it all into your suet feeder or bird cage. Be sure not to pack the materials too tight as this will make it more difficult for the birds to pluck and pull. The more loose fitting the better. After all has been put together, you can go ahead and hang around your gardens and landscapes. Tip: hang the nesting helpers near a bird feeder to attract more birds. Voila! That’s all it takes to lend a helping hand to your neighborhood birds.
Whether you decide to tackle this project yourself or invite the kids along for the crafting, this project is fun, simple and will be sure to attract birds on the hunt for nesting materials.