Nesting Season in the UK: How Children Can Learn About Birds and Respect Their Nests

As the first green shoots of spring begin to unfurl and the days grow longer, the UK countryside comes alive with birdsong and bustling activity. Nesting season is upon us - a magical time when birds build their homes, lay eggs, and raise their young. For curious children, this is an ideal opportunity to observe one of nature’s most fascinating cycles up close.

At The Den Kit Co, we're big believers that the great outdoors is the best classroom. Nesting season offers a wonderful chance to spark children’s curiosity, teach them about local wildlife, and instil a lifelong respect for nature. So, how can your little explorers get involved safely and meaningfully?

What is Nesting Season?

In the UK, nesting season typically runs from March to August, although some birds begin earlier. During this time, birds are focused on building nests, incubating eggs, and feeding their chicks. Different species nest in different places—hedgerows, tree canopies, shrubs, or even the eaves of houses - each carefully chosen and crafted for safety and warmth.

Nature Learning Through Observation

Children are natural adventurers, and nesting season is full of real-life stories to uncover:

Nest Building: Encourage children to look for birds carrying twigs, moss, or feathers. Where might they be headed?

Birdwatching: Provide a simple bird guide or app to help children identify the species they see in their garden, local park, or woodland. Robins, blackbirds, blue tits, and wrens are some of the UK’s most common nesters. We have a Kit for this. 

Feathered Clues: Finding a fallen feather or a half-eaten berry can become a mini-mystery for children to solve—what bird left it behind?

How Children Can Help (Without Disturbing)

It’s essential that we teach children not only to appreciate birds but also how to respect their space:

Give Nests Space: Never touch or disturb a nest. Watching from afar with binoculars is just as exciting and much safer for the birds.

Make Your Garden Bird-Friendly: Children can help fill bird feeders, gather and leave out nesting materials such as moss and sheep's wool, or create bird baths using shallow dishes.

Litter Patrol: Even small actions like picking up litter in a local park can help nesting birds avoid harmful materials.

Quiet Curiosity: Remind children to keep voices low and movements gentle when near nesting sites. This helps birds feel safe and undisturbed.

Den Building and Nests – A Natural Connection

One beautiful way to connect children with nesting birds is through den building. When kids build their own dens, they learn firsthand what birds intuitively know: shelter matters. A den becomes a mini-lesson in natural architecture—what makes a good roof? Where’s the safest spot?

Try this:

• Use a Den Kit to build a “nest” in the garden.

• Pretend to be birds gathering “nesting materials”—twigs, moss, leaves—and talk about how each material helps with insulation or camouflage.

• Reflect on how birds must choose their nest site wisely, just as children choose where to pitch their den.

From Curiosity to Care

Nesting season is a time of quiet miracles, and when we take the time to show children the wonder in a simple feather or the chirp of a hidden chick, we’re planting the seeds of empathy, respect, and environmental stewardship.

So this spring, let’s grab our wellies, head outdoors, and share in the joy of birdlife—with care, curiosity, and a bit of Den Kit Co magic.

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