How to Make an Artificial Bird Nest

Making an authentic bird nest is an easy project. Bird nests can be made by crafters to display in the home on Christmas trees or on mantles, or they can be made to take outdoors for birds to find and live in. This is a great project for both the young and old and groups. Making bird nests greatly complements the study of birds and wildlife. Different birds have different types of nests. The nest in this project attracts general songbirds.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic tubStraw
• Small sticks
• Pine needles
• Spanish moss
• Spray glue

Instructions

1. Gather pine needles, straw and a few small sticks.

2. Place these in a plastic tub.

3. Add a couple of large handfuls of Spanish moss to the plastic tub. If the strands of the moss are tangled, detangle them.

4. Decide if you want to have a long or oval-shaped nest.

5. Mold and wind the moss, pine needles, small sticks and hay into the desired nest shape. Be sure to leave a hollowed-out area in the center of the nest.

6. Use as much of the natural materials and the Spanish moss as possible to make the nest smooth and tight.

7. Pull a few strands of moss free from the nest so it will hang loose and trail off the nest. This will make your nest appear authentic.

8. Apply a light coat of spray glue to the nest if you plan to display it in the home. The glue will help the nest hold its shape. If you don't plan to keep the nest in the home, skip to the next step.

9. Take your bird nest outside and place it where a bird could gain access to it. Places you could choose include the grooves between tree branches, a new bird house, inside a shrub or in the corner rafters of a barn or storage shed.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are using your bird nest as a craft, place painted bird eggs into the nest.