The day after Earth Day-- bird nest activity

Holidays come and go, and Earth Day is definitely included in that. I guarantee that for every person who recycled something yesterday, that at least half of them tossed that same styrofoam cup in the trash today.

But as they say, "Earth Day is Everyday." It's a lot easier to say than to do.

So today with the sun shining, we did our part by partipating in a community clean-up and setting out some help for our bird friends. It's both sides of the Earth Day spectrum as far as I'm concerned-- there's something to be said for keeping the world clean by not being a part of it (litter clean up) and there's something to be said for learning to enjoy nature and the world by being a part of it (the birding activity.)

Here's my Boy doing his part. All that good for the Earth and a little sunshine, too.

BIRD NEST FUN FUN FUN

You only have to clean out nesting boxes once to know all of the stuff that birds collect to use for their nests. Some birds prefer sticks and twigs, others grass, others mud. And for what it's worth, some might like yarn.

I have seen this activity in numerous nature books, and last year gave it a try using grasses and some yarn. Although some of the materials we put out were gone, we never saw where they ended up. (Once the leaves are off the trees in the Fall you can go on a nest hunt and look for the materials.) Last year we also tried using a mesh onion bag and pulled out some of the ends through the holes.

This year we're trying something new-- just a box of shredded up yarn. We've got three nesting boxes on the property. Two are currently vacant and one has a family of chickadees living in it (I think.) Regardless of whether the activity works or not, it's a fun, cheap, and easy thing to do with kids not to mention a great way to get rid of your scraps of yarn.