Birds are building nests with our rubbish. Can we offer them something better?

Spring has arrived in Australia, and the birds are busily constructing their nests. However, they are increasingly turning to our rubbish, such as cigarette butts, plastic bags and fishing nets, alongside organic materials like grass and twigs. A global study conducted in 2023 identified litter in the nests of 176 bird species, highlighting the risks these materials pose, including choking, poisoning and entanglement.

In Australia, birds are facing additional challenges, including a biodiversity crisis and the emergence of bird flu. One potential solution to assist our feathered friends is to make more readily available alternative nest-building materials, particularly in this critical period. The experimental project Peckable Architecture, led by Bethany Kiss, aims to provide birds with alternative materials by installing bricks composed of natural nesting materials across prominent Melbourne locations.