Nests

At the end of T2 we made nests just like birds! We used plaster of paris and added brown paint to this. We soon realised that making a nest is no easy task.

Instructions for Nest Building

Things You'll Need:
• Straw or hay
• Plaster of Paris
• Acrylic paint (brown)
• Twigs and other nest materials
• Ice-cream containers or bucket
• Aluminium foil
• Glass jar
1. Step 1
Mix the plaster of Paris with a small amount of water in a glass jar with a lid. The final thickness should be about the consistency of a milkshake.
2. Step 2
Stir a small amount of acrylic paint into the plaster of Paris. Use brown to get the colour of dirt or mud. Stir the plaster and keep adding paint until it reaches the desired colour. Remember, it's much easier to darken a colour than to lighten it, so start with a small amount of paint and gradually add to it.
3. Step 3
Take a plastic ice-cream container diameter and fill it with straw or hay. Pour the plaster mixture onto the straw.
4. Step 4
Use another mixing bowl and put it upside down on several layers of newspaper. Put some aluminium foil over this bowl.
5. Step 5
Apply the straw and plaster combination to the aluminium foil and work it around to get it into a nest shape. Dry completely before proceeding.
6. Step 6
Remove the bird nest from the aluminium foil-covered bowl carefully.
7. Step 7
Finish the bird nest with decorative touches. Mix up more plaster and paint and apply some gathered or store-bought feathers, twigs and leaves. Crafts stores have plenty of finishing touches for these decorative nests, such as little birds and eggs. Or use Easter eggs!