Why British Birds Welcome a Helping Hand

Come March, our resident birds are already sizing up the neighbourhood. Blue tits, great tits, robins, blackbirds and house sparrows are all looking for somewhere safe to raise a brood, and the materials they need are not always easy to find in a tidy modern garden. Mowing, strimming, deadheading and the odd bout of over-enthusiastic pruning all remove the moss, grass and loose fibres that birds would once have gathered without a second thought.

A nesting materials station is a simple way to give that back. It is little more than a wire basket or suet-feeder cage stuffed with clean, dry, natural odds and ends, hung up where birds can help themselves. Done well, it takes ten minutes to assemble and can be topped up all spring.

What to Fill Your Basket With

The trick is to offer a variety of textures. Different species have different preferences, and a mixed basket keeps everyone happy.

• Moss — the single most valuable material for most small birds. Sphagnum or garden moss pulled from a lawn or patio cracks is ideal. Break it into loose clumps so it dries rather than rots.
• Dry grass — long, dead grass from a late cut, or clippings left to wither for a day or two. Never use fresh, damp clippings, as they can go mouldy.
• Short pet hair — a favourite of tits and sparrows. Brush your dog or cat and set the clippings aside. Keep it to 2–3 cm lengths, and only use hair from animals that have not been treated with flea or tick products in the past few weeks.
• Wool — untreated, unwashed sheep's wool is superb. Avoid dyed or treated wool; natural is best.
• Feathers — a few clean, dry feathers from a pet bird or a pillow are fine. Never collect feathers from wild birds, as they can carry disease.
• Small twigs and bark strips — good for larger birds such as blackbirds and thrushes.
• Dried leaves — a handful of clean, dry leaves adds another layer of texture.

Mix them loosely rather than compressing them. Birds need to be able to pull out a strand, not excavate a brick.

What Never to Offer

Some materials do more harm than good, and it pays to be strict about what goes in.

• Plastic string, baler twine, fishing line or netting — these can tangle around legs and necks.
• Dryer lint from tumble dryers — it holds water, goes mouldy and can contain chemical residues.
• Human hair — it is fine for the bin, not the basket. It is too fine, strong and long, and can wrap around tiny legs.
• Damp or dirty material of any kind — mould and bacteria are a genuine risk to chicks.
• Dyed, bleached or chemically treated fabrics and wool.
• Cooking fats, grease, or anything from the kitchen that might attract rats.

If in doubt, leave it out. A basket of clean moss, dry grass and short pet hair is all most gardens need.

Building and Hanging the Station

A wire hanging basket works well, as does an old suet ball feeder, a mesh vegetable bag (the kind onions come in) or a purpose-built cage. Whatever you use, it needs three things: open sides so birds can pull material out, a lid or top that keeps rain off, and a hook or loop to hang it from.

Fill the basket about three-quarters full. Do not cram it — a loose fill dries faster and is far easier for birds to raid. Hang it from a bracket, a branch, a shed eave or a fence post. If you are using a mesh bag, reinforce the top with a twist of garden wire so it keeps its shape.

Check the basket every few days during the nesting season. Top it up, shake out any damp clumps and replace anything that has gone soggy. Once the chicks have fledged, empty it, wash it out with hot water and let it dry before storing it for next year.

Where to Position It

Position matters more than most people expect. Place the station within a metre or two of your nest boxes, but not directly above or beside the entrance hole. Birds are vulnerable while gathering and prefer a short, safe hop from the station to the box.

Other useful pointers:

• Hang it at least 1.5 metres above the ground, out of reach of cats.
• Choose a spot with some cover — near a shrub, a hedge or a wall — so birds can approach without crossing open ground.
• Keep it away from feeders and bird tables, which can get crowded and aggressive.
• Face it away from the prevailing wind so the contents stay dry.
• If you have space, set up two stations in different parts of the garden to reduce squabbling.

It also helps to site it near water. A shallow dish or bird bath nearby means birds can drink and bathe without a long trip.

Keeping an Eye on the Results

You will know the station is working when you spot a blue tit tugging at a tuft of moss or a sparrow flying off with a beakful of hair. Early mornings are the busiest time, so put the kettle on and watch from a window a few metres away.

Nesting season runs roughly from late February to August, with a peak in April and May. Some species, such as robins and blackbirds, may start earlier. If you keep the basket topped up through spring, you may see two or even three broods supplied from the same little wire cage.

It is a small gesture, but it makes a real difference. A handful of moss and a bit of dog hair costs nothing, and in return you get a front-row seat to one of the best shows in the garden.