Avocado Leaf Nest

Every time that we buy an avocado fruit, we plant the seed, just below the surface. All of them sprout. We have many avocado plants in our little urban forest in Mumbai, in various degrees of growth; both in pots and the ground. 

I had noticed a few years ago that always some of the leaves get woven together in a strange net made out of cottonish lint and fine gossamer like threads. Initially, I thought it is the properties of the leaves that weave themselves together. One day, in a potted avocado in my backyard, I observed two tiny birds flitting in and out of this plant and weaving the two leaves together. After which, I realised that the miracle was not only in the leaves but also these birds, possibly building the nest to lay their tiny eggs. 

Avocado leaves contain polyphenol and pinene. These inhibit the growth of bacteria. Externally, the leaves will possibly have anti-inflammatory action when  tied around skin ailment or injury. Possibly, the birds know the preservative properties of the leaves. 

Internally, avocado leaves besides the fruit, have diverse health benefits - Digestive, removes kidney stones and toner. Helps respiratory ailments, detox, aids weight loss. The tea is very helpful in diarrhoea, stabilises blood pressure and cholesterol and helps in regulating blood sugar. Good for lactating mothers.  

How to Use Avocado leaves?

Wash 3  Avocado leaves and boil in 1 ½ cups of water. Cover and allow to steep for upto 10 mins. Dosage - upto 2 cups per day.

To break down kidney stones - Boil 5-8 mature avocado leaves in a cup of water till reduced to ¾ th. Drink it empty stomach for 10-15 days. 

Wondering why this tiny bird (greenish colour, which bird?) chooses the avocado leaves only to make this nest? Where does it get this kind of lint from which it weaves two leaves together? Does it manufacture it? Possibly, there are some properties in the avocado leaves besides the shape which may be preserving the nest? As we have noted above, the avocado leaves do have anti-bacterial properties and possibly the bird creates the nest only in these leaves for better preservation. And what other reasons?

We would like to know more about this. Feedback welcome!