Birds use variety of materials in nests; not every choice is a good one

DEAR JOAN: A while back you mentioned, I believe, one should put out dryer lint for birds to use as nesting material. Is this the time?

— Nancy Toledo, Santa Clara

DEAR NANCY: It’s never a good time to put dryer lint out for the birds. It’s a tempting choice, being so fluffy, but it doesn’t hold up under chick-raising conditions, and can dissolve in the rain or an aggressive sprinkler, making the nest unstable.

Most birds have already constructed their nests, although they will continue to add material here and there. At the start of next year make small twigs and leaves, grass clippings (as long as you don’t use chemicals on your lawn), and small pieces of straw available. Some birds use mud to either build or shore up their nests, so leaving a muddy patch of ground unadorned would be appreciated by them.

Many birds use fluff from plants and weeds to line their nests, giving you encouragement to grow native plants and forgiveness if you’re a tad behind on pulling weeds. Some use the surprisingly strong spider webs to help hold their nests together, so that’s another plus for letting spiders live in our gardens.

Besides dryer lint, don’t be tempted to put out yarn or human hair as nesting materials. Birds, especially young chicks, can become entangled in them, leading to deaths or the loss of a foot. Dog and cat fur is also risky, especially if the pet has been treated for ticks and fleas.

DEAR JOAN: I noticed a few days back that the level of liquid in my four hummingbird feeders wasn’t going down.

I also noticed that I’m not seeing or hearing the hummingbirds.

Where have they gone?

— James Reedy, Campbell

DEAR JAMES: Although their disappearance from your feeders might seem alarming, most likely there’s nothing to worry about.

When the migratory birds return to the Bay Area from their winter homes, joining our loyal round-year resident hummers, they arrive tired and hungry. Backyard birders often find their feeders swarmed

In time, however, the birds get busy with other things, such as visiting all the spring flowers, feasting on insects and starting families. A small portion continue their journey northward.

Feeding habits also change, depending on the supply of natural food available. It might seem that hummers rely heavily on our feeders, but the food we give them represents only a small portion of their daily intake during the spring and summer.

Neighborhood conditions also can change. The appearance of wandering cats and birds of prey can deter hummers from visiting feeders.

The pendulum will eventually swing back and you’ll again enjoy being eaten out of house and home by those beautiful little birds. In the meantime, keep those feeders sparkling clean and the nectar fresh.

DEAR JOAN: If I have a 10-gallon aquarium, how many fish can I have?

— James J., Los Gatos

DEAR JAMES: The general rule of thumb is 1 inch of fish for every gallon. If all your fish are that small, you can have 10. Elbow-less fish still need elbow room.

The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.