Summer is a good time to offer goldfinches nesting material.

Wild Birds Unlimited cotton ball

Different birds use different nesting materials. In July the goldfinches just begin nesting. They generally line the inside of their nest with a soft lining. Clean pet hair or cotton can be stuffed into an old mesh onion sack or an unused suet cage and hung from trees and bushes for birds to use in nest building. Wild Birds Unlimited also sells natural cotton balls and Birdie Bells full of feathers, straw, and cotton.

They also use dried grasses in their nest construction. It’s best to keep your lawn free of weed and feed chemicals. Other construction materials can include twigs, dead leaves, feathers, plant fluff or down (e.g. cattail fluff, cottonwood down or Canada Thistle fuff).

Avoid using dryer lint. Lint from man made fabrics hardens after getting wet providing poor nest insulation.

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