I was a boy scout until I was 16 or 17 and they didn't teach us about the bird's nest. We made "kindling" by shaving wood with a knife. That stuff ends up being larger than your bird's nests large material. Granted we used a match to light our fire not only sparks. Wish I learned this earlier.
I was taught to grab kindling, move it to one spot, and light it on fire. Then slowly put on tinder, and then fuel. An hour of watching fire starting videos has shown me how much I missed out on.
Yes, the phloem (inner bark) is amazing. It also has some internal layers. Some phloems were traditionally eaten, a sort of forest spaghetti:) cooked in water, eg birch phloem. And of course, phloem is perfect for weaving, as the ancestors used to do. Greentings to Pennsylvania from Poland 🇵🇱 the homeland of Dan's ancestors.💪🇺🇲🇵🇱
Where the word "Adirondack" comes from: > “Bark Eater” is an English translation of the Mohican word “Adirondack,” a term the Mohawk once used for Algonquian-speaking tribes who were said to eat the inside of the bark of the white pine when food was scarce. The Adirondack mountains were given their name in 1838.
I usually take some wire with me in my kit and do a wrap and twist off around my birds nest after making it to hold shape and I make a couple of them if I find a good source for the material. That way I have atleast one more for the next fire. I also use my char first for the first fire and use some of the large material in my char tin to make char material for the next one. I believe the number one most under utilized resources when it comes to this stuff is not utilizing prep time. Taking time to prep some of your resources when you have the opportunity (especially on a trip that takes multiple days) can save crucial time later when you may not have the time you need. You prep it so the next time you need it… you don’t have to try and find, harvest, refine or whatever have you because you already prepped it for the next instance you need it. With that… you just rinse, lather and repeat. So it’s always taken care of the next time you need it.
Thanks so much for the lesson! Great teaching techniques. I have a circa 1995 waterproof plastic neck lanyard case that perfectly holds a Bic lighter, mag/ferrochem rod/steel, and a bunch of tightly packed dryer lint. I have not run into a situation where I cannot start a fire with some prep and that kit. It's an easy kit to make for someone living in the city. My 5 and 7 year old know how to set a fire with that kit. I love handing it to them and watching them go to it.
I was thinking the same thing.i am showing my grandchildren this video What he shown us make a lot of sense. I am guilty of making the birds nest that has the thin center but he is right about getting a better fire the way he did.
@@geemail369 It certainly can if it's dry out, but if it's foggy, damp, or raining, it's best to have some sort of oilcloth, plastic bag, or aluminum foil to wrap the tinder in to help keep out the moisture.
You can do this on top of an LP record cover. If you lift it up and hold it at a slight angle, then tap the edge of the record cover, all the seeds will roll out.
Thanks for making this. I was camping this weekend and my bird's nest didn't work. I think it's because it was grass. When I tried to process it, it just broke into shorter and shorter straw, not finer material. I'll try inner bark next time.
Great review right before my Pathfinder Intermediate class tomorrow. I’ll be throwing a bandana down to collect the finest material when processing. Great stuff as always!
Great video! I watch many bushcraft channels and none that I have seen explain this so well. 👍 I learned a few good points but one really caught my attention. I have heard of char cloth, and the embers from a bow drill But have not considered natural char. Could you please consider a video on what your favourite natural char material is and how you use/store it?
This is great. I recently attended a course at the Pathfinder school and I brought some tulip poplar bark back with me (we don’t have tulip poplar in Wisconsin). Now I know how to process and get the outer bark off. Thanks!
As I watched, and this was great, I was thinking, what if your hands were half frozen? Then I thought, probably take a bit longer. Your hands would be happy when the flames started. I've seen this before but it was more of a nonchalant, this is how it's done type thing and the nest was thin. This was good to see and in depth thanks.
Great video..I really need to get out and start working on my bush crafting skills. Very well explained. In Oregon, but wish I could come attend your camps
"Bird's nest" is the best description. It is a lot more like a real nest than you might think. My birds collect large sticks, branches, bark etc and fill the bulk of a cavity, then select finer materials like cotton fibres, thin strands of bark etc for the interior lining. This fills the outer section quickly and gives good support, and the inner section is nice and soft and smooth, a comfortable spot to roost for weeks.
Oh, they also build the bottom pretty thick, don't want their eggs falling through holes or a cold draft under. In fact, it's probably the best insulated part of the nest.
Ok, NOT BIRDS NEST INVOLVED ... but related; Question: How do I tell if my steel has "lost its edge"? I strike and strike, and it starts feeling smooth. Is it time for a new steel??
Dude, it’s amazing how much free knowledge you are giving us on this channel. Can’t thank you enough. Keep it up brother!
Greetings once again from nova Scotia, my friend, you were born to teach. Much respect, Arthur
Where is he from? He gets about as much snow as where I am in NB but I wonder what part of the US gets that much other than maine
@@williamsherwood5117 Pennsylvania
I’m an old guy and I’m out there practicing three or four times a week on all my bush craft skills. That’s just a fun part.
I was a boy scout until I was 16 or 17 and they didn't teach us about the bird's nest. We made "kindling" by shaving wood with a knife. That stuff ends up being larger than your bird's nests large material. Granted we used a match to light our fire not only sparks. Wish I learned this earlier.
I was taught to grab kindling, move it to one spot, and light it on fire. Then slowly put on tinder, and then fuel. An hour of watching fire starting videos has shown me how much I missed out on.
First time any one saved the shavings, always noticed that. Thanks.
Thumbs-up from France !
Thank you for breaking down the bird's nest process 😁 makes sooo much more sense now
Salut l'ami !! Content de voir un confrère français s'intéresser au bushcraft !
One of those would pack down nice in a sandwich bag. Another awesome video.
Dan for the win!
THANK YOU DAN. I'VE WATCHED A LOT OF VIDEOS. YOURS IS THE BEST FOR ME. TO UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF THE CONVERSATION. SIMPLE AND TO THE POINT.
Yes, the phloem (inner bark) is amazing. It also has some internal layers. Some phloems were traditionally eaten, a sort of forest spaghetti:) cooked in water, eg birch phloem. And of course, phloem is perfect for weaving, as the ancestors used to do. Greentings to Pennsylvania from Poland 🇵🇱 the homeland of Dan's ancestors.💪🇺🇲🇵🇱
Where the word "Adirondack" comes from:
> “Bark Eater” is an English translation of the Mohican word “Adirondack,” a term the Mohawk once used for Algonquian-speaking tribes who were said to eat the inside of the bark of the white pine when food was scarce. The Adirondack mountains were given their name in 1838.
Wow thank you for these tips and history i am new to this and I love learning
I usually take some wire with me in my kit and do a wrap and twist off around my birds nest after making it to hold shape and I make a couple of them if I find a good source for the material. That way I have atleast one more for the next fire. I also use my char first for the first fire and use some of the large material in my char tin to make char material for the next one. I believe the number one most under utilized resources when it comes to this stuff is not utilizing prep time. Taking time to prep some of your resources when you have the opportunity (especially on a trip that takes multiple days) can save crucial time later when you may not have the time you need. You prep it so the next time you need it… you don’t have to try and find, harvest, refine or whatever have you because you already prepped it for the next instance you need it. With that… you just rinse, lather and repeat. So it’s always taken care of the next time you need it.
Thanks so much for the lesson! Great teaching techniques. I have a circa 1995 waterproof plastic neck lanyard case that perfectly holds a Bic lighter, mag/ferrochem rod/steel, and a bunch of tightly packed dryer lint. I have not run into a situation where I cannot start a fire with some prep and that kit. It's an easy kit to make for someone living in the city. My 5 and 7 year old know how to set a fire with that kit. I love handing it to them and watching them go to it.
One of your best videos, Dan
Excellent teaching Dan. Thank you. -Stephen, Ohio 🇺🇸
This helps alot! I have intuitivelty tried to NOT make it dense, because I was worried about suffocating the spark.
I’ve always done this instinctively, but you have just shown me how to teach this to my grandkids. Thanks
I was thinking the same thing.i am showing my grandchildren this video
What he shown us make a lot of sense.
I am guilty of making the birds nest that has the thin center but he is right about getting a better fire the way he did.
sooo good - thanks Dan
Thanks man, best explanation of a fire-birdsnest I've seen
I'm guilty of making an actual bird's nest with yellowish long grass but I'm glad that i now know better.
Haversac as a way to harvest the fine stuff is such a great idea
Yet another reason to always carry a manbag with you
Or for something that's compact, water-tight, floats, and even carries rod and striker inside checkout TinderKeep.
A simple cotton cloth will do the job just fine.
@@geemail369 It certainly can if it's dry out, but if it's foggy, damp, or raining, it's best to have some sort of oilcloth, plastic bag, or aluminum foil to wrap the tinder in to help keep out the moisture.
I usually keep a bandana tied to my belt loop for all-purpose use. It would come in very handy for processing material like this.
@@ladyofthemasque I like the way you think
Nice
Thanks Dan!
Very informative! Thank you!
Best explanation yet! The steps you simply outlined were on target. You teach extremely well. Kudos!
Very helpful life saver. I hear Thrush singing around you they here at Alaska in the summer. I defend birds and their habitat to the death
Love it. Going to try this out tomorrow in the forest (UK). Loving the videos.
Great information Dan but i wanted to see you light the damn thing!
You can do this on top of an LP record cover. If you lift it up and hold it at a slight angle, then tap the edge of the record cover, all the seeds will roll out.
WOW, awesome... You're simply the best teatcher! Thank You very much Sir, Greetings from France ^_^
Dude you are AWESOME!!! Thank you!
Thanks for the soup nest!
Great focused teachings Dan. I like your style as well; relaxed and fun learning. Thanks mate.
You are just an excellent instructor. Thanks for the content.
So awesome, thanks for sharing your wisdom with us !! Now when I can I would like to try this with my wife and kids.
You are such a fantastic teacher!🥰👍
Thanks for making this. I was camping this weekend and my bird's nest didn't work. I think it's because it was grass. When I tried to process it, it just broke into shorter and shorter straw, not finer material. I'll try inner bark next time.
Great review right before my Pathfinder Intermediate class tomorrow. I’ll be throwing a bandana down to collect the finest material when processing. Great stuff as always!
Great advice. I never thought of making it tight almost baseball shaped.
All very well explained.
Wonderful details explained. I enjoy how you pick out certain subjects and concentrate on one aspect or detail. Knots, lean to, axes, boilo etc.
Thanks Dan I know I'm going to be ready when I'm going to wood wouldn't wood and have to make a bird's nest.
You do an incredible job explaining without being boring. All of us Pa coal boys love this stuff!
Great video! I watch many bushcraft channels and none that I have seen explain this so well. 👍
I learned a few good points but one really caught my attention. I have heard of char cloth, and the embers from a bow drill But have not considered natural char. Could you please consider a video on what your favourite natural char material is and how you use/store it?
The black chunks left in yer fire pit that didn't burn to ash, you'll see it used on many of Greg Ovens channel vids. Happy camping!😁
Kenn Nuthatch awesome info. Thanks :)
Great short video, but an excellent amount of information!
Where I live we have alot of one seed cedar, and it works great, I mix in pinion sap. Boom you have a fire.
nice explanation of the soup can method . simple explained. Love your Videos brother.
I watched the video too well. Thank you for the good information^^
Love your shared knowledge, thanks friend!!!
Thanks for putting together that video. Well spoken and very easily understood I'll let y'all know how much first bird's nest comes out.
Thank you!!! That was a great video! That was really good information.
This is great. I recently attended a course at the Pathfinder school and I brought some tulip poplar bark back with me (we don’t have tulip poplar in Wisconsin). Now I know how to process and get the outer bark off. Thanks!
Dude, you're such an awesome teacher!
You're a very good instructor. Great video!
Thank you once again from OG! Good thought about the thickness of the well in the bird's nest. Hope your family continues to be safe and healthy
You sir are truly a teacher. Thanks!
The best skills video on UA-cam. Concise and fun.
Thanks for this video. Very well explained
That was excellent! Thanks again, Dan!
Thank you.
Medium material? You mean it talks to ghosts?
Thanks for that. Good to know.
As I watched, and this was great, I was thinking, what if your hands were half frozen? Then I thought, probably take a bit longer. Your hands would be happy when the flames started. I've seen this before but it was more of a nonchalant, this is how it's done type thing and the nest was thin. This was good to see and in depth thanks.
Excellent description!
good stuff. great teacher
When building a bird nest to start a fire, success is on the side of the prepared
Loved this! Thank you so much. :D
Well done! Thank you.
Great video
Great tutorial 😊
It gave me some thoughts on how I make my soup can!
Amazing thanks Dan!
Very useful.
Amazing channel, I tried this and the outcome was amazing ! thank you
Brilliant explanation. Thanks.
Pretty similar to packing a pipe to smoke.
Great vid
Never seen this explained before, so thanks! Good tips!
Hi from Sunny South Africa. Nicely done and some great tips. From a new bushcraft youtuber.
Really good vid, thank you
Great video..I really need to get out and start working on my bush crafting skills.
Very well explained.
In Oregon, but wish I could come attend your camps
Henep rope is also very very good tinder
great video as always
"Bird's nest" is the best description.
It is a lot more like a real nest than you might think.
My birds collect large sticks, branches, bark etc and fill the bulk of a cavity, then select finer materials like cotton fibres, thin strands of bark etc for the interior lining.
This fills the outer section quickly and gives good support, and the inner section is nice and soft and smooth, a comfortable spot to roost for weeks.
Oh, they also build the bottom pretty thick, don't want their eggs falling through holes or a cold draft under. In fact, it's probably the best insulated part of the nest.
Great video Dan. This will improve my craft by leaps and bounds. When are you mastering the bow drill so we can get all your pointers on that?
Next to David Canterbury you are my favorite bushcraft representives
👍
Well done, Dan. I always get excited when I see another post by you. Very informative and educational, short, sweet, simple.
I mostly use a twig bundle for my fire lay that’s how I was taught 18 yrs ago at a mors kochanski class a good size twig bundle and one match
Thank you for the information. It seems that there isn't enough info on this part of fire making.
Great tutorial Dan👍
You should do this for a living 😅😊
Good video dude
@coalcrackerbushcraft please go on the Alone show I think you'd kill it... plus I just wanted to say I'm a Pennsylvanian myself hah
Any specific types of tree we should look out for? I assume not all types of tree bark is equally good, or may even work
I have been wondering about how people did not get burned with a birds nest
my man!
Love it 👍☕️
how do you get that layer of bark out of a thick piece?
You said this really fast near the beginning, but I didn’t quite catch it: what do you use a birds nest for?
Where did you get that Gerber hat?. Nice video .
Ok, NOT BIRDS NEST INVOLVED ... but related; Question: How do I tell if my steel has "lost its edge"? I strike and strike, and it starts feeling smooth. Is it time for a new steel??