At least they are if you're a red kite.
We've discovered that items in red kite nests are becoming ever more surprising, showing the magnificent bird of prey's penchant for weird and wonderful home decoration.
Among the goodies uncovered by experts are England flags, handbags, magazine pages, tea towels, lottery tickets and socks.
And one cheeky red kite had even lined its nest with a par of frilly knickers.
Alissa Cook, RSPB Bird of Prey campaign manager, says: 'Many of us like to redecorate our homes every now and then and we look for interesting things to make it look nice.
Other items discovered include gloves, sponge balls, crisp packets and handkerchiefs
'It seems red kites are no different and they are quite the homebodies. They will collect anything shiny, bright or eye-catching and use it to line their nests.
'We might want to keep an eye on our washing lines as tea towels and underwear seem to be among their favourites!'
Red kites were barely seen in the UK for centuries, as they were shot and poisoned in an attempt to wipe them out. But against the odds, thanks to the longest running bird conservation project in UK history, they have clawed their way back and expanded throughout the UK.
The UK population is now estimated at 1,200 breeding pairs.
And thousands of people are now getting a good look at red kites and learning about their kleptomaniac tendencies through a series of RSPB projects called 'A date with nature'.
Red kite viewing sites are all around the UK, including mid-Wales, Leeds and south-west Scotland. The Date With Nature scheme also includes dates with other birds of prey like peregrines and ospreys.
Many red kite nests are monitored and chicks tagged to track the movement of the species. It's these checks that have unearthed the weird and wonderful trophies. Other items discovered include gloves, sponge balls, crisp packets and handkerchiefs.
Shakespeare was one of the first to spot the eclectic home decoration tastes of the red kite, when he warned 'when the kite builds, look to lesser linen,' in The Winter's Tale (Act 4, scene 3).
In his day, washing was left on hedges to dry and red kites took advantage but they appear to have branched out to washing from clothes lines as well as all sorts of other items.
Adult red kites are real home-birds and both males and females build their nest. Their nests are usually 10-20 metres high and carefully made of dead twigs, lined with sheep's wool and grass.
Just before the female lays the eggs is when the kites decorate their nests with other random items, and they redecorate every time the female lays a clutch. It can become pretty big and colourful, especially if the same nest is used for several seasons.
Random decorations
It is believed that the random items are used purposefully as a form of decoration, perhaps to advertise to other Kites in the area that the nest is in use
Alissa Cook said: 'As well as finding it fascinating that red kites are taking off with such an eclectic mix of home decorations, it is extremely heartening that their presence continues to be felt.
'To think we almost lost these incredible birds of prey is devastating, and more and more people are now seeing them regularly.
'They are quite extraordinary to watch as despite being huge birds, they are very graceful, almost regal. The RSPB is delighted that so many people want to come and see them up close and personal through this scheme and thank goodness we can still show them off.'
Notes
Photographs are available to download free of charge from the RSPB Images website. To download images, click on the hyperlink below and please enter the username and password when prompted.
Red kites are just one of the wild creatures you can see through the RSPB’s Date With Nature Scheme. Other Dates will bring you close to birds like puffins, red kites, ospreys and starlings. To make a date near you visit www.rspb.org/datewithnature.
Red kites are unmistakable with reddish-brown body, angled wings and deeply forked tail. They were saved from national extinction by one of the world's longest running protection programmes, and have now been successfully re-introduced to England and Scotland. The red kite is an Amber List species because of its historical decline.
Despite being legally protected, birds of prey, including red kites, are still being killed in some parts of the UK. The RSPB is running a campaign calling for an end to the illegal killing of all birds of prey. To pledge your support go to www.rspb.org.uk/birdsofprey
Gemma Rogers
http://www.rspb.org.uk/media/releases/details.asp?id=tcm:9-220496
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