Nesting Materials

Discussion in 'Wildlife Corner' started by Doghouse Riley, Feb 6, 2018.

  1. Doghouse Riley

    Doghouse Riley Head Gardener

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    It's a bit early yet, but there's a lot of activity in our garden amongst, the blackbirds, robins, dunnocks and blue tits.

    But at this time of year we start "saving up."
    An ideal lining material for birds nests is the lint generated and deposited on the filter of our tumble dryer. After each use it's easy to remove with a damp finger. We add it to the pile and we'll put it out later. It's always in demand.

    P1000979.JPG
     
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    • martin-f

      martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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      • ARMANDII

        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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        It the Pampas Grass in the garden that starts to get it's plumes stripped for nesting material by the birds. My neighbour always remarks that he knows it's Spring when he sees the birds stripping the Grass!!:heehee:
         
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        • martin-f

          martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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          I put a pampas Grass in last spring it was only small plant, might be stupid but i am training it to grow up, i know they like to bush out but i have limited space and want it to bush out higher up over the walk way,

          Yes i know its going to go mad but my thoughts was with maintenance i can train it into this space time will tell what happens with it :biggrin: i see there not too popular on the forum after a few years my thoughts will probably be the same,

          How long can they take to flower please this was it about a month ago.
          IMG_1016.JPG
           
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          • "M"

            "M" Total Gardener

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            One of the issues with pampas grass are the leaves - sharp little beggars which cut like paper cuts! :oops:
            erm ... :Think: ... you might want to rethink that idea? Unless, of course, you don't mind having your face ripped to ribbons :whistle: :dunno: :heehee:
             
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            • "M"

              "M" Total Gardener

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              For the nest builders I collect all the hair from grooming/blasting Ozzy. A mixture of the warm undercoat and water resistant top coat, so perfect for the job. I gather it all up, scrunch it into a tight ball and then cram it into one of those suet block feeders - similar to this ...

              [​IMG]
              ... each Spring I can end up refilling it 3 - 5 times (that is a LOT of compacted Ozzy fur! :heehee: )

              I have tried the dryer lint, as per the OP, but in my experience birds can be very choosey and the lint gets overlooked in preference to the Ozzy coat.
               
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              • martin-f

                martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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                Thanks M, but that's no match for a tough rough Yorkshire man :nonofinger: i work with my hands and cut myself nearly every week no pen pusher here :snorky:, as mentioned im going to train it and regularly maintain it, if it does become a issue i have a plan :).






















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                  Last edited: Feb 7, 2018
                • ARMANDII

                  ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                  Actually, Martin, my Pampas [Sunningdale Silver variety] has sat on in the East border for around 30 years and has never been any trouble. This pic was taken several years ago when I had had to split the Pampas Grass as it was encroaching on the area where I wanted to build the Arbour. It's now twice as thick but keeping within the bounds of where I want it to be.

                  [​IMG]

                  I cut back any of the long narrow leave that hang over my narrow paths every year and make sure I wear gloves but every now and then I cut the leaves back without bothering and have never been cut yet. If you grab hold of the leaves, and pull without gloves, you will get cut!!:doh::hate-shocked: It also gets an annual Spring clean out where I delve into the plant, while wearing gloves and thick long sleeved Shirts to cut/pull out any of the previous years stems and debris.

                  [​IMG]

                  Well, do you know what variety you've got, Martin?:scratch:. unless you've got the tall variety, like Sunningdale Silver, and have a dwarf or medium sized Pampas then, obviously, it will only grow so high anyway.:dunno: My Pampas gets to an average height of 10' to 12' which does make a nice visual point.:coffee::snorky:
                   
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                    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 7, 2018
                  • "M"

                    "M" Total Gardener

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                    *Nearly* every week? :scratch: Pah! Light weight Northerner! :rolleyes: :heehee: You underestimate the risks of being a pen pusher! Pen pusher (ish :heehee: ) here - I work with my hands too and cut myself daily. Oh yes, risk taker that I am :shhhh: NB: *never* underestimate the power of a paper cut! :nonofinger: They sting: daily!!! :snooty: (And to think, modern technology was supposed to change all that: paper less society, anyone? :doh: )

                    I hail from Yorkshire stock. My mother was a rough, tough Yorkshire WOman ... I inherited her YORK gene (the shire gene my youngest brother inherited ... you know the one I mean: he who hails from the shires? :noidea: ... in modern terminology, one could be forgiven for thinking he is an original Hobbit from the "Shires" of Hobbiton :whistle: In which case, skin so thick he wouldn't need armour :heehee: )

                    I'll keep my finger's crossed that you have got the non-lethal type ;) :fingers crossed: :heehee:
                     
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                    • martin-f

                      martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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                      Thats the type of thing i want A it looks lovely, i am sure with a little training and pruning i can achieve something similar :).

                      Most people have where a hot lot us lads up here :roflol:

                      I work with tools that can chop your hand off or finger off in a second drills that can through your hand and handle rough wood with splinters, so i try and be careful round things,

                      I am the same with plants i treat them with respect be careful round the plant your working with and you wont get hurt,

                      but i still injure myself on a weakly basis :roflol: this is my recent scratch lol
                      DSC_0114.JPG
                       
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                      • "M"

                        "M" Total Gardener

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                        :waggy: More practise needed then! :rolleyes:


                        Should I kiss it better? :scratch: :dunno:

                        [​IMG]


                        :pathd:


                        :dbgrtmb:

                        PS: Just because you have shown me yours, does *not* mean I will show you *mine* :snooty:
                         
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                        • martin-f

                          martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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                          Sorry for the off topic i am at it again :heehee:

                          A better picture of the roots i put out for them.
                          DSC_0105.JPG
                           
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                          • "M"

                            "M" Total Gardener

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                            Father from Sunderland :whistle: ;) :heehee:
                             
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                            • "M"

                              "M" Total Gardener

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                              Oooh, I say! :oops: TMI? :dunno:

                              :lunapic 130165696578242 5:
                               
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                              • martin-f

                                martin-f Plant Hardiness Zone 8b

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                                Its not advisable to start something you cant finish with a Yorkshire man :heehee:

                                This is also not a wise game :roflol:
                                 
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