Nest Building 101

Before a momma bird can lay her eggs, she must have a suitable nest or nesting site. A lot of work and preparation can go into a nest, but that makes sense considering it is the house in which the baby birds will grow up in! Based on the species of bird, nests can vary in size, style, building material, location, and more. If you look closely, you may see adult birds flying with sticks, leaves, string or other funny items in their beaks. Often times, they use those items to build a nest.

Some birds, such as the bald eagle, build gigantic nests. A bald eagle’s nest can be 4-6 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep! Hummingbirds, on the other hand, have nests that are tiny, measuring 1.5 inches in diameter. The location of certain nests is different depending on the species, too. American robins and northern cardinals prefer to build their nests in trees or dense shrubs, while birds like the pileated woodpecker prefer a tree cavity. Not all birds build a nest though. The brown-headed cowbird, a bird found in Arkansas, actually prefers to use the nest of other birds to lay her eggs. She will even go so far as to let the other mom raise her babies.

Building a nest is an art that many species of birds have mastered. Try this activity and create a nest of your very own.

Activity Time:

• 30 to 60 minutes

You Will Need:

• Natural materials that you can find outside. We do not recommend using any live foliage; let growing plants live. Consider collecting sticks, twigs, fallen leaves, pine straw, small rocks, etc.

• A small tray or dish to build your nest in. Ask your parents for help selecting an appropriate item.

• A picture of a bird nest.

• A rock the size of an egg. We will call this rock the “egg.” Feel free to paint it if you have supplies at home and your parents are okay with it.

Instructions:

• Once you have all your items, lay them out on the tray in front of you. Do your best to build a nest that will be able to safely hold your “egg” when you are done building. Weave sticks or pine straw together and use leaves or similar items for insulation. There is no right way to do this – every bird does it a little differently.

• Once you are done, gently take your nest out of the tree and move it to a shrub or bush outside. Set your rock in it. Does it stay together? Does it hold the weight of the rock? Adjust your nest as needed until you are happy with the final product!

Photos courtesy Quin Warsaw