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Funky Nest Entries 11-20

11. Christine Davis, Liberty, Missouri

In mid-to-late April this year, I kept hearing a bird sing a pretty little song close to my house which drew me to my kitchen window. He did this for a couple days. When I looked out, I saw a pretty little male bird, that I thought was a type of wren, sitting on the railing of my deck. He was brown, but his head was a reddish color as well as his breast. I'd never seen one like that around here. He sang and sang facing my house as if looking at my window. Then one day I opened the back door and a bird flew very close to me, and past my head to a tree. I turned to see where it had been and found a small nest in a wreath hanging by my back door. (See photo)

Inside, there were 5 tiny, light blue eggs. I took photos every couple days after the eggs were laid documenting their progress. In no time, the eggs hatched and there were little scrawny-looking baby birds. All eggs hatched! After a little more research, I believe these birds to be either purple finches or house finches. I'm very happy that these little birds chose my floral wreath to raise their new family and that I got to share this experience! Recently, I went to take more photos and the nest was empty. It was a little sad, but......I guess they all graduated from Flight School!

12. Klaudia V Frizzell, Staatsburg, New York

This shot is of an Eastern Phoebe sitting on her nest. She picked the back of a security light on our barn. The nest is full of moss and mud and when the light goes on the nest gets extra heating to help incubate her eggs. She was not happy that I was taking her picture. I had to wait about 15 minutes for her tolerate my presence.

Frizzell_EAPH_Funky Nests

Update received July 20:

The results of the nest, three young birds the day before the mother moved them from the nest.

Frizell_EAPHbabies_FunkyNests

13. The Noekk, Charleton, West Virginia

An adult American Kestrel visits its nest site in the stonework of a building.

The Noekk_AMKE_Funky Nests

14. Darren and Brad, Washington, DC

American Woodcock

Darren and Brad_AMWO_Funky Nests

15. Nevada Caparulo, Cameron, New York

The old Farmall is farming a new crop this season,,an American Robin took over and has 4 babies now, in 2 weeks we should be able to have our tractor back, my aunt wanted me to enter in the contest so here's my shot.

16. Steve Jones, Larue, Ohio

I went to the Amish greenhouse in my area to get my spring plants. When I was finished shopping I overheard the owner mention a wren's nest. I asked her where it was and she pointed me to a mess of flowers sitting off on its own. It had a sign on it that read: "This flat has been bought and paid for by Mrs. Wren...Cuz she made her nest in it."

The Amish lady told me that the "wren" flies out whenever people come around. And comes back when things calm down. I looked over at the flat and there was this cute little nest in the middle of it. I took a few pictures of it and moved on to a different nest. When I came back, the mother was on the nest...it was a chipping sparrow's nest, not a wren. But it still was a pretty nest.

I like the picture because of all the color in it. It almost seems as though the eggs belong on the flat.

17. Diane O'Keeffe, South Boston, Massachusetts

I submitted this photo to give you a little documentation. These two love birds (Mourning Doves) built their first nest in one of my flower boxes, had their babies and the babies became fledglings. The parents watched them go and then came back and built yet another nest in another one of my empty flower boxes. On the day they were building the nest the whole family came back together, Mom, Dad and the two babies!!! I hope that you enjoy it.

18. Beth Westphal, Scandia, Minnesota

This is the nest of Cliff Swallows that nest on our house. They make a new nest each year. You can see imprints of their other two nests,which were destroyed by a hailstorm. They rebuilt this one last year because it had been damaged the least,but it was too late for them to raise chicks. They do have chicks this year.

Westphal_CLSW_Funky Nests

19. Denise Robeson, Lincoln, Nebraska

I am an amateur bird photographer, who avidly looks for nests with eggs and babies in it, each spring (any species or variety)! Because my love for birds is well known in my area, I have numerous friends and family members who alert me to nests on and around their various properties, each spring. (I am then invited over, to photograph!) The calls I receive usually consist of more commonly found birds: robins, cardinals, eastern bluebirds, house finches (sometimes with cowbird eggs in them), barn swallows and grackles. This year, however, I got a rare treat: the next door neighbor discovered a real Mourning Dove nest with two beautiful white eggs in it.....mom had built it on top of the third tier of a Baker's rack that had been placed on the neighbors' outside deck!

The dove thought it was an ideal location, apparently (right next to a lantern, you'll notice)! In my opinion, this bird's feathers are so smooth and perfect you almost can't tell the bird is "real" (not stuffed, or fake...)....but she is! She was also indifferent to my presence....caring less that I was inches away from her, taking pictures. If only all my avian subjects were so helpful! (Barn swallow mothers dive bomb me, when I even approach their nests of babies...!) I think the location of the Baker's Rack nest is especially funny, since Baker's racks are often found in kitchens, with cookbooks on them (for instance). Ms. Mourning Dove decided to cook up a little recipe of her own (for babies)!

Robeson_MODO_FunkyNests

20. Janis Lafluer, Boise, Idaho

I found this nest on my 2nd floor balcony, where I have a macrame' with 2 silk plants hanging. The momma built a nest in the upper plant and laid 4 eggs, which hatched just days ago.

Lafluer_FunkyNests