Bird Nests

An evidence of God’s Principle of Individuality

To lay their eggs.

Birds build nests for a few, special purposes:

To incubate and hatch their eggs.

Birds build nests for a few, special purposes:

To protect their young ones from adverse weather and predators.

Birds build nests for a few, special purposes:

They do not build their nests to provide a home for themselves.

Birds build nests for a few, special purposes:

They want to be able to protect their eggs and babies from predators.

Birds are careful about where they build their nests:

This nest is tucked carefully in a tree where the foliage helps to hide it from the eyes of predators and where it is safely off the ground.

They hope to protect their eggs and babies from bad weather conditions.

Birds are careful about where they build their nests:

This nest is attached to the ceiling of a porch away from wind and rain, as well as potential predators.

Their beaks/bills

What tools do birds have for building nest?

Click on the picture to see a series of photos showing the creation of a nest.

Their feet

What tools do birds have for building nests?

Click on the picture to see a video clip of the weaver bird building a nest. (The clip is a little over 5 minutes long; you may want to watch just a portion of it.)

What are some of the things you have seen birds use to build nests?

Click on the nest below to look at pictures of nests that show many different materials! (And notice how unique the eggs are while you’re at it!)

Nests can be made of many materials:

What are some of the things you noticed birds used to build their nests in these pictures? Let’s help the recorder make a list.

Nests can be made of many materials:

Take a minute to share ideas and write them on the Nest Notes page.

Did you see some of these?

Sticks/twigs Moss Grasses Mud Feathers Bark Straw/hay Hair Spider silk

Bits of trash/paper Saliva Leaves String Pebbles Sap Stems Wood Flowers Shells

Nests can be made of many materials:

The female, but the male sometimes helps.

Who usually builds the nest?

Like this weaver bird.

Young birds leave the nest soon after they learn to fly and do not come back.

Once on their own, they find food by themselves and eventually build their own nests to lay eggs.

Many birds have matured and are ready to lay eggs when they are 6 months old.

How does a bird know how to build a nest without being taught?

How do young birds know how to get food and to build nests?

Instinct – Heavenly Father “pre-programs” them to know what to do.

How does a bird know how to build a nest without being taught?

We have seen how birds have similar characteristics and are, at the same time, very unique and individual.

Their nests, too, serve similar purposes while being unique and suited to each bird and its habitat.

How do nests show God’s Principle of Individuality?

The next time you see a bird nest, think about where the bird may have gotten its materials, how much work went into building it, and see if you can determine which kind of bird built it!