Bird's nest can be a great living room decoration and can be made from anything around the garden or front yard. Wild birds usually prefer to build their own nests. However, you can also attract several species of birds to your yard by providing a suitable place or building a nest box.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making a Decorative Nest
Step 1. Prepare a long, flexible plant stem
These stems will form the main part of the nest, and are easier to use than hard, short twigs. You can use straw, long grass, vine stems, willow leaves, reeds, or even seaweed that is available nearby or at gardening supply stores. Raffia is also great to use and you can buy it at a craft store.
If there's a mexican feather grass around, take a handful and then pull your hand up to pick up the hairy seeds at the ends. Once you've got enough grass seeds, roll them into a ball and then press them with your thumbs to make nests
Step 2. Bend the stem of the plant until it is rounded
Take a plant stem that is thick enough and then bend it into a U shape. Add more stems if necessary until finally a full circle is formed. Tie this loop with thread or thin wire. If there is a lot of leaves on the stem of the plant, or if the stems are dry and bent, you can tie them together without using twine.
- If you're having trouble tying the nest, you can temporarily clamp it while waiting for the glue to dry. Don't use glue if you want to place this nest outdoors.
- If you're having trouble keeping the shape of your freshly cut plant, try hanging it in a windy area for 24 hours to dry. Some plant stems will be easier to bend when they are fresh. However, grass and hay will be easier to shape once dried.
Step 3. Shape the rest of the nest
Take the shorter stem of the plant and shape it into a smaller circle. Tuck this circle inside the larger circle then push it down to the bottom. You may need to use string or glue to hold the two loops together, depending on the size and how strong you want the nest to be.
Step 4. Decorate the nest with the materials you got from around
Birds sometimes collect debris to build their nests for days. You can make this nest faster, but try to take the time and enjoy the process of gathering things from around or boxes of handicrafts you have at home. Here are some ideas you can try:
- If you want to place the nest outdoors, only use objects that are outside the house, but not objects that could injure the animal.
- Eggshell feathers and flakes should fit well into the nest. For your information, although generally harmless from a health perspective, it is illegal to collect most wild animal hair in the US.
- Look for twigs and bark, leaves, and moss in a variety of attractive shapes and colors.
- If you're making a nest for decoration in your home, you may want to use twine, colored paper scraps, and confetti.
Step 5. Place the nest inside the house (optional)
Finish off your craft project by adding fake eggs or eggs in the nest. You can put marble or colorful pebbles to fill the nest quickly. Or try emptying real eggs, making decorative eggs, or even carving eggs if you have the right tools.
Method 2 of 2: Attracting Wild Birds to the Nest
Step 1. Find out how the birds around you nest
Look for animal life guides at a bookstore or library, or search the internet for information about birds in your area. Choose one or more bird species you want and find out how they nest. That way, you can determine the most effective form and type of nest to attract.
For example, in North America, you can use the NestWatch as a source of bird life information. In addition, the information on this site can also be supplemented with your own data
Step 2. Leave the nesting materials in the yard
This is an easy way to draw birds closer, and might be worth a try if you do decide to build a bird's nest. If you manage to get specific bird nest information, you can prepare the necessary materials. However, without that information, you can still draw birds closer using some of the materials in the following list and placing them in an easy-to-see area:
- Stiff tree branches (for bird species with a flat base) and flexible twigs (for bird species with curved bases)
- The results of cutting grass such as dry grass and straw, a little tree bark and moss, dead leaves, etc.
- Human hair or animal hair (not more than 15 cm long)
- Rope or thread
- Mud, cobwebs, and/or caterpillar cocoons to help birds hold nest components together.
- Do not expose these materials to harsh chemicals such as dyes, pesticides, or insect repellents. Wipes and clothes are also not recommended.
Step 3. Provide a variety of plants
If you want to attract birds that are nesting in holes, try leaving dead tree trunks or broken tree trunks in your yard. Lively trees and shrubs will be more attractive to other bird species for nesting, especially if the plants are native to the area. For best results, place "ladders" of grass or moss, perennial and flowering shrubs, and trees.
Step 4. Make a nest box
If there are no dents or holes in the yard, try making a simple wooden nest box or birdhouse. Just make sure to make the squares according to the body size of the bird you want, or the body size of the birds flying around.
- To increase your chances of success, follow this guide to building a birdhouse. Unfortunately, this guide is primarily aimed at bird species in North America.
- Clean the birdhouse regularly when it is not being used for nesting.
Step 5. Make a bird's nest
There are many birds who prefer to build their own nests rather than living in a prepared nest. To attract birds closer, try lining natural holes in the plant with the nesting materials described above. If you want to build a different type of nest, such as a flat or curved nest, be sure to pay special attention to the habits of the bird species you want. Each bird species has a tendency to choose certain materials.
