Date: 5/29/25 11:31 am From: Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> Subject: From Cornell University - Birds and Pet Fur Problems
Titmice and Swallows are two species that use hair and pet fur for nesting material. I have pictures of my titmice pulling hair from the backs of deer in my yard. The internet is replete with videos of birds removing hair from pets. I expect that there are very few dogs today that are not treated with medications for fleas and ticks. This research is going on in the UK but only a fool would discount that it impacts our birds in the same way. This can impact bird nesting success, egg hatching, and young survival . The treatment put on lawns also impact birds and bird reproduction causing sterility, fewer eggs hatching and the loss of reproductive efforts altogether. The status symbol and desire to have a perfect manicured and pest free yard is killing our birds directly and indirectly. We have 40,000,000 acres of manicured lawns in the United States and this is an area the size of Florida. The desire for status and approval has a lawn culture in this country that is creating another factor contributing to our declining bird populations.
New Research Explores Pet Fur Problems
A recent study from the UK documents some concerning findings regarding birds' nests that contained fur in the lining. In a large sample of nests provided by participatory scientists from around the UK, 100% of the fur linings contained insecticides commonly sold as flea and tick treatments for companion animals and livestock. Higher insecticide levels were linked to poorer offspring survival. While more research is needed, we have updated our blog post on providing nesting materials for birds to reflect this new study. In short, don't offer treated pet fur to birds as a source of nesting material.
The Impact of Pesticides on Bird Health and Populations - Birds Tales
