Birds build nests from man's hair trimmings

Three birds have made nests of Brian Williams' hair, using the leftover locks from his monthly trim in his Devon back garden.Last Updated: 1:33PM BST 29 Apr 2009

Mr Williams, 68, a retired teacher, has his hair cut by his wife Joan who collects his grey curls on a old rug.

She then shakes the blanket into the back garden but the trimmings have now been put to another use by three birds.

A goldfinch, a greenfinch and a robin have all collected the hair and used them to build homes in his garden.

The couple have now been able to take photos of all three birds swooping down and picking up the snippings.

They even have pictures of the robin's nest built from long swirls of Brian's hair and containing three eggs.

Mr Williams, of Barnstaple, Devon, said: "It is incredible that three species of birds have found a use for my hair.

"We saw the robin first but then we noticed the goldfinch and greenfinch nipping off with the trimmings.

"Joan always shakes a sheet outside which we use to collect the hair-cuttings but never gave it another thought.

"In the wild, female birds line their nests with strands of wool and are constantly foraging for other things to use.

"I am going a bit thin on top but there's still some left to help them out."

The robin's nest is on top of old wooden post covered with ivy. The greenfinch is nesting in a shrub and the goldfinch a tree.

Greenfinches nest in colonies in dense shrubs with nests made from twigs and grass, and lined with fine roots and hair.

Goldfinches make a cup-shaped nest built by the female with moss, grass and lichen, and lined with wool and plant down.