Bird Bedding Basics

Corn silk was my favorite part of family barbeques. I’d stand on the deck with dad and gleefully toss them into the yard, ignoring the hamburgers beginning to burn on the grill. We always tossed the husks in dad’s compost pile, but he insisted that the silk belong to the birds.

“Birds like it for their nests,” Dad told me, also blissfully unaware of the suspicious, smokey smell coming from the grill.

I never saw a nest stuffed with corn silk or any birds searching our yard. But I assumed that dads always know what they’re talking about. So, if my dad said that birds used corn silk in their nests, then the birds must be doing that.

Humans like to toss all kinds of things into our yards for birds to use. Hair from a brush, freshly groomed dog fur, scrap bits of sewing projects, dryer lint. We like to help and we like to think of nestlings cozied up in a soft, warm home, but not everything is as helpful as we’d like.

Some of the soft, snuggly stuff is just better than others. Since baby birds deserve a soft, warm, and safe nest, it’s important to know what’s safe and what isn’t.

The Bird Bedding Basics

Here’s the basics: birds build nests using nature’s extra materials (choice of materials varies by species). In-demand nest construction supplies include dry twigs, dry leaves and grasses, feathers, plant fluff (like cottonwood fluff), moss, bark and pine needles.

Usually, birds can hunt these necessities down themselves, but they won’t say no to a little help. If you want to contribute to nest construction and don’t mind the more natural look for your yard, there’s a few nature-based nest donations you can make.

1. Pile up your pesticide-free grass clippings somewhere safe and accessible
2. Try growing choice nesting materials in your yard. This can include moss or native, fluffy vegetation varieties (milkweed is a good option)
3. Avoid the impulse to clean your yard too thoroughly. Birds look for pine needles, dried twigs and dried leaves around the bases of trees
4. Let your yard’s spiders hang around so birds can use spider silk in their nests
5. Make access simple with a nesting material dispensary. Stuff natural supplies in an old suet cage, a mesh bag or a homemade dispensary constructed with bendy, green twigs or wire (careful of the pokey bits)

The Helpful Human Additions

Birds are certainly able to gather the needed materials. That said, we’ve compiled a list of some household items you can safely repurpose for your birdy buddies and their burgeoning babies.

1. Dog or cat fur from all your spring de-shedding work – as long as it isn’t too fluffy (will hold water) and is free of chemicals (see below)
2. If you’re the backyard farming type, birds can use chicken and poultry feathers just like they use feathers from wild birds
3. If you’ve got a more expansive backyard farm, toss the birds sheep’s wool and other animal fibers that don’t soak up water (baby birds don’t like sitting in wet nests just like we don’t like sitting in wet socks)
4. For the reptile owners, some birds use snakeskin in their nests. When your critter sheds, drape the skin over a branch for mama and papa bird to find         

The Definitely Do Not List

Even the best of intentions can go astray. Not everything that humans like to toss to the birds turns out to be good for the birds. Since our goal is to help the birds out and make sure they stay warm, healthy and happy. There’s more than one nest no-go to be aware of.

To make sure you’re as helpful as possible, think of this list before tossing nesting material into your yard.

1. Despite how common it is, birds shouldn’t have human hair in their nests. If it wraps around a baby bird, it can create a hair tourniquet (human babies can get these on their toes) and cut off blood supply to a body part
2. For the same reason, avoid long, thin strings or fibers, even if they’re a natural material like cotton or twine
3. Also avoid synthetic fibers. Baby birds can be very sensitive to synthetic chemicals and dyes
4. Dryer lint is another no-go that might surprise you. It soaks up water and carries unhealthy chemicals like remnant detergent
5. Don’t give birds hair, fur or feathers from domestic animals treated with flea and tick prevention or other chemicals. Any domestic animal treated with a topical medication should keep their sheddings to themselves
6. Finally, avoid anything pokey, crinkly or chemically, even if it can be shredded to thin bits. This includes plastics, tinsel, cellophane and aluminum foil

Ornithologists are still debating the value of corn silk as a nesting material (or maybe they just aren’t publishing papers about it). Until major birding resources give us the go-ahead, I’ll tell dad to be careful with the corn silk but generous with his dog’s shedding.

You should explore how you can build relationships with your own local birds too. They’re a powerful part of our native ecosystems. They spread seeds, pollinate and eat up invasive bugs. Plus, when birds know your yard is good habitat for them, you get to enjoy their songs, air shows and bright plumage perched on your very own nest material dispensary.

For more bird resources, you can rely on Iowa Audubon, the National Audubon Society or All About Birds from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.