Hi Tweets,

This morning I came upon this little Black-capped Chickadee stuffing its beak with dog fur <https://www.flickr.com/photos/trileigh/33810749771/in/dateposted/> that someone had left on the ground in Lincoln Park, presumably as a generous gesture to our avian neighbors.

What?s the current scientific consensus (if there is one) on whether pet fur is OK for this purpose? This Cornell Lab page<https://www.allaboutbirds.org/providing-nest-material-for-birds-dos-donts/> doesn?t mention the fur issue in the main article, but in the comments a Cornell staffer says she had heard of one rehabilitator who said she?d seen canid fur tangled around a bird?s leg. (Intuitively, it would make sense not to offer fur from pets treated with chemicals for pests.)

Although of course I want to do what?s best for the birds, one unconfirmed story about one bird doesn?t seem like a strong basis for prohibiting offering pet fur. The National Wildlife Federation's blog<http://blog.nwf.org/2014/04/how-to-offer-bird-nesting-materials-in-your-garden/> encourages the use of dog fur.

But I?m betting that in Tweeterland, someone with real expertise might weigh in. If it turns out that pet fur is after all a no-no, I?d like to alert our neighborhood news media so they can inform well-meaning fur donors.

Thanks!
Trileigh

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Trileigh Tucker
Pelly Valley, West Seattle
Natural Presence Arts website<https://naturalpresencearts.com/>
Photography<https://www.flickr.com/photos/trileigh/albums/72157661836833455>