Nesting Habitats – EVS Class 3 / Class 4

Nesting Habitats

Have you ever heard birds making chirping sounds from the trees sitting in their nests with twigs falling out?

That is because birds are among a few other animals who build their own homes in the form of nests. Different birds make different types of nests.

They build nests to stay in them and to lay eggs in and raise their babies.

Trees: Trees and stick nests of crows, jays, and hawks constructed in tree canopies are the most prominent and well-known indication of breeding birds. These are the easiest and simplest to detect nesting birds as well as to avoid their nests.

Shrubs: Most nesting birds construct a cup nest in the middle of not very tall trees, typically near the ground.

Ground: Many species build a well-hidden nest on the ground, either in the open where people and other animals don’t visit or in wooded habitat.

Cavity: Cavity trees are hollow spaces in dead or dying trees. Rather than hiding their nests in the big bushy trees, many bird species take advantage of cavities. They can also be in the ground or a variety of urban buildings.

Structures: Many birds build their nests in buildings. Birds will nest on bridges, beneath house eaves, building ledges, utility and light poles, railroad tracks, and even gravel roads.

Different types of Bird Nests

Ground Nests

The typical “nests” are usually not built by many birds. Instead, they dig a tiny hole in the ground or in leaf litter to lay their eggs. These nests are widespread in a variety of birds like ducks, pheasants, penguins and certain vultures.

Other birds, such as raptors and owls, nest on the ground but do not create a depression. These birds look for a private location and lay their eggs on the ground.

Burrow Nests

Burrowing owls, bank swallows, kingfishers and puffins all make their nests in burrows. It has two advantages:

• Protection from the predators and elements.
• Consistent temperature for eggs as well as hatchlings.

Birds that create tunnel nests frequently build their own, although other species (such as the burrowing owl) utilize preexisting burrows to nurture their young.

Cavity Nests

Like burrows, cavities in trees provide great protection.

Woodpeckers, bluebirds, parrots, and several species of owls exploit holes in trees or hollows to create cavity nests.

These holes allow birds to properly heat their eggs while also providing shelter from bad weather.

Platform Nests

Platform nests are high and flat.

Platform nests are most often utilized by huge birds of prey such as eagles,  ospreys, herons and cormorants. They live in trees or on the tops of giant vegetation.

Many platform nest builders build their nest year after year, frequently growing it to be very enormous.

Cupped Nests

Cupped nests are the most common and typical of a nest.

These nests resemble a bowl or cup. They are made of a variety of materials, including sticks and twigs, twine and feathers.

Most songbirds, as well as hummingbirds, robins and some swifts, construct cupped nests.

Suspended Nests

Suspended nests resemble elaborate cupped nests but differ in how they get support. Their sides support them and not their bottoms.

These constructions can take on a variety of forms and sizes, such as a pendant, sphere, or hanging cup.

Birds such as orioles, weavers and vireos use these nests.

Why do birds build nests?

Birds build nests:

• To lay their eggs and keep them secure
• To provide warmth to their eggs and nurture their offspring
• To keep predators away from their eggs and chicks
• To safeguard their eggs and chicks from bad

A male and female bird find a nest location and then build a nest. A bird alone can also work on building the nest. Different bird species create different nests. Some nests are quite basic, whilst others are highly intricate.

Where do birds build nests?

Birds build nests:

• in hedges, bushes and trees
• directly on the ground
• in holes in trees
• inreedsbyriversandlakes
• in tunnels in river banks and cliffs
• on cliff edges
• on and in buildings
• on ledges and walls and under roofs
• In nesting boxes.

What are the materials used by birds to build their nests?

Materials used by birds to build their nests:

• plant down and seed heads from grasses and reeds
• cocoon silk and silk from spiders
• Man-made materials
• leaves
• mosses and lichens
• seaweed
• mud
• feathers
• sticks and twigs
• grasses and reeds
• bird saliva
• fur and hair from other animals

What are nests of common birds made of?

Robin – Grass, soft twigs, roots, wool, hair and cotton wool.

Crow – All kinds of things – even pieces of wire and wood.

Koel – It does not make its own nest – It lays its eggs in a crow’s nest.

Tailorbird – Two leaves with a fold

Sunbird – Hair, grass, thin twigs, dry leaves, cotton wool, bits of tree bark, pieces of cloth rags and spider’s cobwebs

So the next time you hear birds chirping in the park, try to see the items they used to build their nests. But don’t go too close, they might you might scare them away!

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