06/15/2026
During nesting season, you may see social media posts recommending putting out various materials for birds to supplement their nest-building efforts.
While these posts have good intentions, a lot of the suggestions (such as string or dryer lint) are actually unsafe for birds!
If you do choose to leave out materials for birds to use for their nests, ensure they're naturally sourced, like twigs, bark strips, or moss.
Birds are generally great at finding the natural materials that they need to build a home for their babies, without our help. But what can be more challenging for them is finding enough food to keep up with their nestlings' voracious appetites!
And this is where we can help out: by growing diverse, native plant species wherever possible -like our gardens, balconies, and community spaces. Those native plants support native insects, which, yep, turn into great food for baby birds!
đ¸ Brittany Crossman Brittany Crossman Photography
