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Birdzilla
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 131
Location: mckinney,TEXAS
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 3:51 pm Post subject: Hints from Heloise offbase |
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I do not normally read the Hints from Heloise column. However, while enjoying the beaches of Hawaii last week I was reading the local Maui newspaper. For some reason the Hints from Heloise column is at the end of the sports section. One of the hints I happened to notice suggested offering lint from the clothes dryer to birds, to be used as nesting material.
The reports I have read indicate that the lent is full of chemicals and should NOT be made available to birds as nesting material. |
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sandih
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
Posts: 997
Location: Dallas,TEXAS
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:34 am Post subject: |
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| After brushing my dog outside (yellow lab) I pile the hair from the brush into a small, empty cly pot and leave it out on the ground for the birds to take as they wish. |
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Tricky Grama
Joined: 06 Mar 2004
Posts: 729
Location: Plano & land at Dodd City,TEXAS
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:42 am Post subject: |
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I have read the same regarding lint for birds nests but never known the reason. Why should there be chemicals in the lint-is it not from our clothing?
Patty |
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WILD BIRD CENTER/Watauga
Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 9
Location: Watauga,TEXAS
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:52 am Post subject: |
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According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology--" ...Some people include this as suitable bird nesting material. Others recommend against it because it is porous and dries out poorly if it's rained on in the nest. Still others warn that wet dryer lint dries into a hard mass, providing poor nest insulation, however this may happen only if it contains laundry detergent or fabric softener residue. More information is needed before we can recommend offering dryer lint."
In the last 10 years or so I have heard never to use dryer lint and from many different sources. All for the same reasons as stated above. We always put our dogs fur outside for the birds and were always amazed at how fast it would disapear.
The Cornell site has a list of preferred nesting material - www.birds.cornell.edu under attracting birds.
Isn't this a wonderful time of year?!
Maureen
Maureen |
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Birdzilla
Joined: 17 Feb 2005
Posts: 131
Location: mckinney,TEXAS
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| Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:38 pm Post subject: Dryer lint |
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Here is the specific link on Cornelll site regarding nesting materials.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/attracting/other_attract/nest_material
Chemicals from detergent, water softner and bleach are the chemical concerns. There are so many other choices that I think it wise to just skip the lint, for whatever reason.
Just FYI, I am the editor of the Cornell All About Birds web site:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds
If anyone has suggestions for new content on the site or discovers errors I am intereted in hearing about them. |
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