Melbourne artists offering birds natural nest materials instead of our litter
A Melbourne project has installed 100 bricks made from natural nest-building materials at two sites to give birds safe alternatives to rubbish.
Birds across Australia are building nests with our litter. A 2023 study found 176 bird species had litter in their nests, including cigarette butts, plastic bags and fishing nets.
The litter causes choking, poisoning and entanglement, especially for chicks. This spring, Melbourne's Peckable Architecture project placed 100 bricks made from bark, casuarina needles, twigs, coconut fibre and moss at Federation Square and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
As the bricks break down, birds collect the materials. Over time, Australian birds have shifted from using 4% human-made material in nests (1832) to 30% (2018), mostly plastic.
The project aims to show how cities can design spaces with birds in mind.
- 176
- Bird species with litter in nests
- 4% (1832) to 30% (2018)
- Human-made material increase
- 100
- Bricks installed
- Federation Square, Royal Botanic Gardens
- Deployment locations
Why it mattersMaking natural nest-building materials available can reduce injury and death to chicks during a critical breeding season.
AustraliaAustralian birds already face biodiversity crisis and bird flu; offering safe nesting materials is a direct way gardeners and cities can help them thrive.
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