Birds’ nests Marvels of architecture and design Anne Woodfield ASAB

Why do birds build nests? To lay their eggs in and keep them safe To incubate their eggs To raise their chicks For protection from predators For protection from weather

Where do birds build nests? On the ground In bushes and trees In holes in trees In reeds by rivers, ponds and lakes In tunnels in river banks On cliff ledges On buildings, on ledges, under the eaves of roofs and chimneys

What do birds build nests from? Sticks and twigs Grass stalks and reeds Mosses and lichens Leaves and down from plants Mud Feathers Hair and fur from other animals Spiders’ silk Man-made materials

What are the materials used for? Building the nest Holding the nest together Camouflaging the nest Lining the nest to make it soft and warm

Birds use materials with different properties to build their nests Sticks and twigs are strong Grass and reeds are flexible Plant down, feathers, animal hair and fur are soft and light Spiders silk is sticky and elastic Wet mud can be moulded and used for cementing other materials together

How do birds build their nests? Birds use their bodies and their brains to build nests. Birds can use their beaks and feet to carry materials. Birds can use their beaks and feet to build their nests. Birds can shape their nests by rocking and turning around in their nests. Birds build their nests better and quicker with practise.

Nest types - scrapes Some birds make a hollow in the ground to lay their eggs. These hollows are called scrapes. Some birds line their scrapes with grass to make a cushion between the ground and the eggs.

This is a scrape of a bird called the Oystercatcher. Judy Evans The eggs are camouflaged amongst the small pebbles and shells on a beach. Can you see the eggs?

Nest types - platform Some birds make very simple flat nests out of twigs. These nests are called platform nests. Birds drop sticks and twigs on the top of each other to make this type of nest. Large birds such as Rooks, Magpies and Crows make these types of nest.

This is a platform nest made by a Wood Pigeon. Can you see that the twigs have been laid on top of each other?

Nest types - Cup Some birds make a nest shaped like a cup. These nests can be made from small twigs, grass stalks and moss. They can be lined with feathers, plant down or the hair or fur from other animals.

This is a cup nest made by a Song Thrush. The nest is made from twigs, grass and moss. The nest is lined with mud and rotten wood.

This is a cup nest made by a Blackbird. The nest has been woven out of stalks of grass.

This is a cup nest made by a Whitethroat. The nest is made from stalks of grass. The stalks have been bent to make the nest.

This is a cup nest made by a Scottish Crossbill Look how the thickest twigs are on the outside of the nest. The nest is lined with feathers and animal hairs.

Nest types – Woven nests The Reed Warbler makes a deep cup nest. It is found in reeds near water. It uses reeds to support the nest.

Look how carefully the Reed Warbler has attached its nest to the reeds?

The Long Tailed Tit makes a beautiful and delicate nest. The nest is made from moss and is stuck together with spiders’ cocoon silk. The nest is elastic and expands as the chicks grow inside it.

The nest of the Long Tailed Tit is covered with lichen to camouflage it. It is filled with feathers to make it soft and warm inside. There can be 2,000 feathers in the nest. A Long Tailed Tit can fly 600-700 miles collecting the feathers for its nest.

Other nests – half a cup The House Martin builds a cup shaped nest against walls under eaves of roofs. The nest has been made of mud and lined with grass. Why does it look like half a cup?

The House Martin uses mud to build its nest. Look at the pellets of mud the nest has been made from.

Other nests – in holes A Blue Tit makes its nest in ready made holes in trees and use nesting boxes put up in gardens. Look at the different layers in this nest. This nest was made in a nesting box. How can you tell?

This is part of a Jackdaw’s nest. Birds often use man-made materials in their nests. What materials have been used in this nest?

Other nests – tunnels Some birds make their nests in tunnels. Judy Evans A Kingfisher uses its beak and feet to dig a tunnel in river bank. It makes its nest at the end of the tunnel.

What are the following nests made from?

The nest of a Blackbird

The nest of a House Martin

The nest of a Long Tailed Tit

The nest of a Reed Warbler

The nest of a Scottish Crossbill

The nest of a Song Thrush

The nest of a Wood Pigeon

Birds and their nest building ASAB

Acknowledgements With many thanks to: Prof. Mike Hansell, (University of Glasgow) for advice and granting permission to photograph nests in the National Reference Collection at The Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow. Judy Evans for the illustration of the Oystercatcher’s scrape and Kingfisher’s nest.