Bird Nest Tutorial

Bird Nest Building Part 1

Making your own bird nests is really fun, and, like anything, easy, once you know how.
Believe me, it will take you a lot less time than it does the birds.

You should read all the instructions before you start. (just like I aaalways do.) =0)

Supply List: now don't turn me off here. This isn't as bad as it looks! =0)

Long and thin birch tree limbs-10 or so (bring them in and let them dry a bit if it's rainy like Oregon. They will stay pliable for several days.)
Pruners or clippers for trimming
Plastic to cover work area ( this is a fun project, but very messy).
Spanish moss, green moss (I pull mine right off the tree, but you can buy it too.)
Glue gun and sticks
Aloe Vera or cold water (in case you burn yourself like i usually do)
Assorted berries, trims, ribbon, jewelry, yarns depending on your taste.
Very thin wire (may be needed for any places that won't stay glued together).
wire cutters
clothespins
eggs (I use about 1 1/4" eggs for a 5-6" nest)

Preparing the Limbs

I use the limbs right off the tree (extra messy). For less mess you can run your gloved hand over the branches outside to get any loose or dry things off before you take them in the house.

Before you start you need to decide if you want a flat nest (would go in a frame)
or a deep nest, which could go in a bowl, dish, cloche, or just sit.
For a flat nest do just 2 or 3 rings, for a deep one 4-6. I usually do 5 for a regular 5" nest.

Put your plastic down on the floor and work surface.

OK. Here we go!!

1. take 2 small limbs in your hand, between finger and thumb, and make a small loop. (2" or so)





2. Start winding the limbs in and out around the loop.

When at the end of the limbs, put aside. (if loop starts to unwind, put a clothespin on it to hold it).

Don't worry about any "stick outs" at this point.

This is the small loop for your nest.
Use the technique above to make 1-4 more loops, each getting a little larger than the last.

Assembly of loops:

You should do all gluing steps on a piece of cardboard or paper, something that hot glue will not harm.

Starting with the smallest loop, put hot glue on the top outside edge. Be generous.

Line up second loop. (This will be a little hard since one loop is larger than the other, but give it your best shot.) Don't worry about glue showing anywhere as it will be covered up later.

Do worry about getting glue on your fingers!! (got the Aloe Vera handy??

"Stick outs" are OK. They can be trimmed off later.

With each step make sure you press and hold the loops down till the hot glue is set.

Continue till all loops are glued together, from smallest (on bottom) to largest (on top).

If there are areas that do not stay together, that's where the thin wire comes in. Just cut a few 2" pieces, bend in half, poke through from the outside, and twist together on the inside.


At this point the nest should be assembled and the size you want. If it is too deep for your container, or frame, you get to 'squish' it down. You can use the heal of your hand, a book, or just sit on it. Your choice. ;0)

Now the creative part begins! This is sooo fun!!

I like to pretty much make my whole nest, then put it in whatever it's going in or on.

Since the bowl, frame, or whatever will be it's bottom, you don't need to worry about the nest being solid on the bottom.

Clip off any "stick outs" on the inside. (I guess if they are on the inside, they would be "stick ins", wouldn't they?) Well, cut those off.

Leave those on the outside and trim them later if desired.

Start filling your nest with Spanish moss using the hot glue gun as needed.

This fills in and covers any gaps, glue blobs, or areas you don't quite like. You can make it pretty solid, and fill about 2/3 up toward the top. Poke some in the outside edges as needed, but leave as much of the twig part showing as you can.

Now you can "fluff" all you want.

I use cheese cloth (tea stained of course, and shredded or pulled apart), yarn, moss off trees, little pieces of bark, and well, anything else i find at the time. The hunt is part of the fun. Add these here and there in and around your Spanish moss and around the top edge of the nest. Add bits add pieces on the outside edge too.

Remember, those eggs need to be nestled into little soft areas, so no big pieces of bark in the middle. =0))

Be a good mama bird now, and make some little spots for your eggs to be 'laid', then hot glue them in.

Now your nest can be added to whatever frame, bowl, or branch you have selected for it's home, and enjoyed all year long.

I hope you have enjoyed building your nest.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please feel free to comment on here, or email me.

This is my first time, and you can help me learn.

Thank you, and Happy nesting!!

Blessings,

Barbara Jean