Blue tits embrace 'aromatherapy'

[Donna]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8199000/8199726.stm

Blue tits use medicinal plants to disinfect their nests, scientists have discovered.

The birds line their nests with aromatic plants such as mint or lavender, which kill bacteria.

That creates a more sterile environment for chicks, which in turn grow faster and have a better chance of survival.

However, individual blue tits are quite picky about which plants they use, and it is not clear how they pass their knowledge on to other birds.

A number of European bird species add aromatic plants to their nests....(cont)

[valhalla]

Garlic kills bacteria in food, too (our food). 

[Judi]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8199000/8199726.stm

Blue tits use medicinal plants to disinfect their nests, scientists have discovered.

The birds line their nests with aromatic plants such as mint or lavender, which kill bacteria.

That creates a more sterile environment for chicks, which in turn grow faster and have a better chance of survival.

However, individual blue tits are quite picky about which plants they use, and it is not clear how they pass their knowledge on to other birds.

A number of European bird species add aromatic plants to their nests....(cont)

Actually, a lot of birds do this both in Europe AND the U.S.  I read an article about a U.S. study on this subject a couple of years ago.  I guess it's instinctive with the different species as to what plants they use when building and maintaining their nests.

Birds are so smart!   

[Donna]

Garlic kills bacteria in food, too (our food). 

Vampires don't like garlic either!!

Sorry, had to Janet,

Donna

[Donna]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8199000/8199726.stm

Blue tits use medicinal plants to disinfect their nests, scientists have discovered.

The birds line their nests with aromatic plants such as mint or lavender, which kill bacteria.

That creates a more sterile environment for chicks, which in turn grow faster and have a better chance of survival.

However, individual blue tits are quite picky about which plants they use, and it is not clear how they pass their knowledge on to other birds.

A number of European bird species add aromatic plants to their nests....(cont)

Actually, a lot of birds do this both in Europe AND the U.S.  I read an article about a U.S. study on this subject a couple of years ago.  I guess it's instinctive with the different species as to what plants they use when building and maintaining their nests.

Birds are so smart!   

Must be why we see so many greens in the eagle and osprey nests, ya think? ???

Donna

[valhalla]

Must be why we see so many greens in the eagle and osprey nests, ya think? ???

Donna

Not so much the Osprey - they use mud blobs to cushion and line the nest and sea grasses are just part of the deal.  Same with tree branches that have leaves on them.  Osprey also like color from things like bags, toys, and flip-flops (read this as Flotsam and Jetsam     )