Don't Clear Out Those Spiderwebs! Hummingbirds Need Them For Nests

For many people, spiderwebs are synonymous with Halloween decorations and hard-to-reach spots that need dusting. For hummingbirds, they're a little piece of home. That's because these tiny birds use spider silk when constructing their nests. The clingy, elastic material functions like glue, duct tape, and thread. According to the BirdNote podcast, spider silk is "flexible enough to accommodate the growing bodies of nestlings" and "resilient enough to withstand all the bustle of raising those hungry babies." 

In addition to making the chick cradle strong and stretchy, spider silk reinforces building materials such as moss, twigs, and leaves. When nesting, a female hummingbird will use it to stitch together these elements and tether her nest to a branch or clothesline. Even if hummingbird habitats aren't your top priority, make sure you know about spiders' benefits before clearing their webs out of your house and yard. In general, banishing spiders isn't recommended because they're more helpful than harmful. One exception is invasive Joro spiders, which you should keep far away from your hummingbird feeders. Their large webs are so strong that they can capture unsuspecting hummingbirds.

Making spiderwebs available is one of the ways to get more hummingbirds to nest in your yard, where you can watch them raise their adorable families. You don't have to let spiders take over your property to help hummingbirds though. Instead, let their webs build up in your garden throughout hummingbirds' nesting period. In regions with cold winters, moms-to-be make their nests in the spring. Nest-building may occur at any time of year in warmer areas. 

Though garden spiders may look like pests, they're usually beneficial to your yard's ecosystem. Leaving the webs — and their weavers — in place can help ward off insects that hurt your plants. For example, many garden spiders feast on aphids, beetles, wasps, and mosquitoes while posing few threats to humans. Plus, spiders are hummingbird snacks, so having some around can attract these birds to your yard.

Resisting the urge to obliterate spiderwebs is crucial, but it's not the only way to give hummingbirds more access to spiders and their silk. It's also important to avoid broad-spectrum pesticides, which can exterminate the arachnids that assist your feathered friends. If you'd like to promote web-building, consider planting sunflowers, mulching around your trees and shrubs, and placing a bowl of water in your garden. Also get to know your community's most common arachnids, which can prevent you from killing them out of fear.