DEAR JOAN: I was doing laundry, as usual on Monday, and a thought suddenly occurred to me.
I use those Free and Clear dryer sheets. Would they be suitable for nesting material if cut in strips and pieces after they have been thoroughly used?
Sue Meyer, Fremont
DEAR SUE: I couldn’t find any specific information about using Free and Clear dryer sheets in bird nests, but dryer sheets in general are not recommended.
I also couldn’t find a good explanation for why dryer sheets are bad for the birds, other than some people believe that exposing birds and chicks to chemicals inside the nest is definitely not a good thing. The majority of chemicals used in the Seventh Generation brand are plant-based, but they are chemicals nonetheless.
Here are some other things to put out for the birds — and some that you shouldn’t.
Good nesting material
Twigs and small sticks — Birds are perfectly capable of gathering these on their own, but you can help by collecting them from your yard or saving the prunings from your trees. Gather them into loose piles around your yard, which will make it easier for the birds to find and take.
Leaves and leaf litter — This is good news for anyone, like me, who is procrastinating about raking leaves. Keeping some of these around will provide supplies for some birds.
Grass clippings and straw — Both of these make an excellent mulch for your garden beds and will supply birds with softer, pliable building materials. One caveat: Don’t use grass clippings, if you’ve fertilized your lawn right before mowing.
Native plants — The benefits of growing native plants are huge, and this includes providing natural nesting materials for native birds. This is also a reminder to eliminate or reduce pesticides in your garden. Birds can use spiderwebs for building nests and insects to feed their offspring.
Cloth strips — Natural fibers, including wool batting, cotton, jute and burlap, are great nesting materials for many birds. Be sure to cut the fabric into strips 3 inches to 6 inches long and no more than an inch wide.
Cocoa fiber — If your hanging baskets need replenishing, put out the old linings for the birds, who have been taking from the baskets all along.
Feathers — If you have old down feather pillows you don’t want any longer, put the feathers out for the birds.
Bad nesting material
Human hair — Although it would seem that hair, either yours or your pets’, would be a great source for nest building, it’s not. It’s too easy for a bird’s leg or wing to get tangled in the hair, cutting off circulation and harming the bird. If your dog or cat has short hair, you can brush them and leave it out for the birds.
Yarn or string — Just like hair, these materials pose too great a risk to the birds.
Dryer lint — A lot of people put out dryer lint, and the birds eagerly take it, but in the long run, it’s not a good building material. The lint has no structure and quickly dissolves in rain or with regular use in the nest. If lint has been built into the nest as part of the structure, then the entire nest becomes unstable.
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