Appeal for scraps for nesting birds in the UK

Scraps of rubbish from knitting wool to cat fur could all be put in the garden instead of in the bin to help birds in UK build nests, the RSPB said .

The conservation charity said hair from hairbrushes and combs, animal fur and fluff from rugs are among the things which could be used by birds alongside traditional nesting materials such as twigs, leaves and moss to make their nests.

Some ingenious birds have found more unusual nesting materials, with firecrests nesting on the Eiffel Tower using hair from the wax mannequins of the engineers who had built the famous structure, the RSPB said.

The organisation is urging householders to put some of the rubbish that could be used by birds out on the grass rather than in the bin.

The RSPB said even clean hay and wood shavings used for pet bedding could be suitable nesting materials – but not synthetic fibres, as they can be too tough and could entangle young birds.

The charity is also asking gardeners not to tidy up too much in the coming weeks, as garden debris such as dried grass, dead stalks, leaves and twigs will all be useful to nesting birds.

Claire Thomas, RSPB wildlife adviser, said: “In the coming weeks, we’ll see birds frantically busy building their nests, searching for suitable materials in our gardens.

“There are loads of things that we may automatically throw away which could actually help a bird line its nest ready for the breeding season and by leaving a bit of hair, fluff or wool you could make their lives that bit easier.”

She added: “If you leave things like flower cuttings and grass in a suitable place, these will also be used for nest building – the birds will tidy it all up for you.”