r/oddlysatisfying • u/GinaWhite_tt • 6d ago

How birds build their nest

10.9k Upvotes

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449

u/IamACanadian47 5d ago

Every time I brush my part husky rescue dog I leave the clumps of fur in an empty suet feeder for all the critters to use and it seems popular.

264

u/pikadegallito 5d ago

I have an ACD/corgi mix that sheds terribly - I brush her outside and the birds gather in the trees, chirping excitedly about the free housing materials. It brings me a little joy every day.

69

u/ecstatic_charlatan 5d ago

ACD/corgi ,is that a cover band ?

98

u/Galatheall 5d ago

It’s a sweet gesture but if you use flea/tick medication you shouldn’t do this as it can harm the birds

51

u/nativerestorations1 5d ago

If I may, an anecdotal blurt: There have been field observations that found in areas where parasites like mites and ticks are high and detrimental to the birds, the opposite might be true. Additionally it’s not uncommon practice for people to leave nesting materials for small mammals treated with Permethrin just to break tick reproductive cycle. Birds took from these too. Overall the offspring appeared to more healthy than those in greatly infested nests. Nestling anemia from bites would be a terrible way to die. Long-term side effects still need more study. I would hate a treatment based interventional approach to end up causing chromosomal damage to future generations. But losing a population of birds at once to tick born diseases is also unacceptable.

I apologize but after a rambling reply to a very valid sincere comment from a helpful person. I can’t even find the source paper that I read. DIY plans for anti mosquito-tick permethrin TP rolls for small rodent nest were popping up though. I don’t intend to sound argumentative. Seeing dying baby birds covered in mites in my own yard cut me to the core and sent me down a rabbit hole. Fighting mites in my own home was rough too and I accidentally triggered and vented.

TLDR; Parasites suck. Thanks for your time; carry on.

8

u/IcePhoenix18 5d ago

It's fascinating, birds actually seem to have some vague understanding of the concept of pest control.

Many city birds have been observed seeking out cigarette butts and including them in their nest, presumably for the pest-repelling properties!

26

u/Dave-is-here 5d ago

for topically applied or ingested medication?

22

u/IamACanadian47 5d ago

Good to know, thank you 👏🇨🇦.

13

u/shayshay8508 5d ago

I do this with my border collie mix! We have a generational nest on the side of my house, and they love his floof for their nest! I love that my good boy can help out the birds lol.

1

u/Fester3787 5d ago

I cut my own hair and I take the clippings out in the back yard and dump them under the shrubs. I hope they get used

15

u/BoulderBlackRabbit 5d ago

You're unfortunately not supposed to use human hair. It's too strong and can get wrapped around bird feet and cut off circulation. :(

2

u/Fester3787 1d ago

Thank you, I will no longer be doing this!!

2

u/BoulderBlackRabbit 1d ago

Of course, kind human!

5

u/VeryImpish 5d ago

I do the same with my cats!!!