NESTING HELP
You can help birds during nesting season by providing building materials, mud and calcium.
For building material, set out short lengths (6 inches or shorter) of string or yarn, draping them over branches or twigs.
Pet fur also makes good nest fodder. After combing or brushing a dog or cat, place the fur on a tree limb for birds to carry away.
To help robins and other birds that incorporate mud into their nests, keep a bare spot in the garden moist, to give them a ready supply.
Birds need extra calcium during nesting season, and chicken eggshells are a great source, but they need to be baked at 250 degrees for a half-hour first, to guard against diseases. Once cooled, break shells into small pieces, and either mix with birdseed in feeders or offer to birds on a separate dish.
