Building the Ultimate Brush Pile: 4 Easy Steps to a Super Brush Pile for Birds

Building the Ultimate Brush Pile: 4 Easy Steps to a Super Brush Pile for Birds:

Let's Build a Brush Pile!

1. Start with a layer of grass clippings, pine needles, and or dried leaves.

If they are just thrown on top, they will clog all the entrances that the birds need to dive into your pile. Also, they will eventually compost and decay, rendering them unusable. The birds will find them easily enough under the brush pile. They will use their beaks and feet to uncover any juicy little critters hiding under them as well.

A large tree branch came down in a late spring snowstorm. I used that for my base framework.

Source: Grandma Pearl

2. Next, use the larger branches to make a base framework layer. Be sure to leave plenty of space between these ‘logs’. There should be another layer of branches laid across the top of the base, placed in the opposite direction. This framework makes for a very sturdy and stable pile on which to add more branches.

By the way, the branches for the framework don't have to be as large as these are. Sometimes I just use saplings, making sure that they are criss-crossed for the most stability and entrance holes.

Interweave the branches at the base for a more stable pile. This method also leaves lots of room for birds to enter and explore.

Source: Grandma Pearl

3. From there you can build up your pile with tree prunings, fallen branches, shrub cuttings, etc. Don’t worry about being neat. If you have to tuck the pieces in here and there so they won’t slide off, that’s just fine. By all means do not stomp on your brush pile to make it smaller. That would defeat the purpose entirely. In this case looser is better. Birds need all the various nooks and crannies to enter into their ‘grocery store’ of goodies, as well as to escape and hide from predators.

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A work in progress. I will add a layer of pine branches later on for winter protection and water proofing.

Source: Grandma Pearl

4. Remember to keep adding to your pile from time to time. Otherwise, it will flatten and be reclaimed by nature. Enlist your kids or grand kids in this process. Children need to learn about nature firsthand. Knowing they are helping the little birds they see around your yard might open up a whole new world to them.

You can expect to see a wide variety of birds accessing your pile, especially in the spring when they need home building and improvement products, as well as baby bird food! Young birds are fed lots of protein by their parents in the form of insects, larvae and other small critters.