Nesting Materials Willow Heart

If you’ve read any of my Valentine’s posts, you probably already know that I like to celebrate birds around Valentine’s Day. There are old folkloric beliefs to support this, people have long believed that birds in temperate climates start looking for mates and making nests in February and its’ even though to be part of the reason that this time of year was chosen to celebrate love. Scientists do know that this is both a great time of year to spot birds in the absence of foliage, and the time that many early birds start to build nests. (Check out the Great Backyard Bird Count for a fun citizen science project_ Many birds time the hatching of their eggs with the emergence of insects in the early spring, some are tied to specific types of insects that they prefer. Consequently, this is great time of year to to make a nesting material holder. There is a lot of disagreement on the internets about what appropriate materials are for these nesting material holders (some say natural yarn is fine… others say your are an evil monster for even considering yarn… it’s a little overwhelming) I have chosen to use wool and straw because they don’t seem to especially controversial, but at the same time, city birds will literally weave candy bar wrappers into their nests, so I like to think they are more resourceful than we give them credit for. I like using brightly colored wool because you can sometimes spot it in nests in your yard which is super fun! It also of course brings the Valentines vibes.

Willow Heart Nesting Materials Holder

I have a number of contorted willow trees in my yard, so I have ample material for making a small project like this. If you don’t have access to willow shoots, you can make the same thing with chicken wire, just squish it into a three dimensional heart shape and fill the same way. Chicken wire is pokey so wear gloves and closely supervise younger children.

Materials:

• freshly cut willow shoots (they should be newer growth and quite flexible)
• at least one Y shaped willow branch
• string
• wool
• straw
• any other nesting materials you’d like to use

Method:

This willow heart is created with “random weaving” meaning that you weave pieces in pretty randomly to achieve the shape you are looking for. Because I use contorted willow, it’s natural curliness helps to hold it together. Vine-y growth would be a good alternative as well. The key bit to get started is to find a Y shaped branch that will form the initial shape.

Bend the two tops of the “Y” down to base of the branch to form a heart. tie them in place with string. Bend any of the smaller branches coming off the main heart shape around so that you start to get a 3D heart. (That you can eventually fill with wool)

Start adding more pieces of willow and weaving them in as best you can on the front and back of the heart to create a cavity in the center.

The more you weave in, the more the branches will lock in place and stay put, but branches will shift and move somewhat and it’s ok. If you have a few joints that need some string to stay put then go ahead and tie them. (You can remove the string after the willow has dried in place) Once you like the shape you’ve made, leave it dry out for a week or more. The branches will loose their flexibility and stop bending. (Effectively your shape will be locked in place)

Stuff in layers of wool and straw and tie a hanging loop on the top. Hang in a tree outside someplace where birds will be comfortable/ feel protected visiting. Scout for colorful nests in the spring!