121. Jan Baker, Severn, Maryland

Last year I applied, and my yard was approved, as a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Soon afterward, a bird must've seen the sign, because she built a nest on my front door wreath. I had to leave my Christmas wreath on my door way into Spring because I certainly could not remove it while occupied.  I was thrilled to be able to follow the progress from eggs one through five, and even caught the moments the eggs hatched on video! We got to view them through my storm door, nose to beak.The mother bird even sometimes remained seated on the nest as I gently opened the door late at night after a long day at work- we had an agreement and she must've realized that I have a companion bird rescue and re-homing service as well as a flock of parrots and finches in residence. I even captured their fledging on video as they took their first flight! Here is the last straggler in his final moments in the nest before taking off to start his life on his own. Fly free little one!!!

 

 

122. Barbara Sharik, Jones,  Louisiana

High on my To-Do list was to empty the wicker trashcan on the patio. But, due to a bad case of geezer gal procrastination, before I got around to it, a pair of Carolina Wrens homesteaded in amongst the plastic liner and all manner of litter; rearing a family of four. The whole amusingly miraculous incident reminded me of a fairy tale. But, instead of the Phoenix rising from out of the ashes, a treasure trove of baby wrens rose from out of the trash. How funky is that? Why did I submit my entry? How could I not?

 

123. Larry Jordan, Oak Run, California

My boyfriend went up to his home in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, east of Sacramento, in Placerville, California.  He was there this month getting ready to do some work on his old 1960s Ford pick-up. The truck had been sitting there for a while, unused, and when he popped open the hood, he found a surprise. The funky nest shown in the attached picture was found under the closed hood of the truck, where the battery would normally sit.  I think some of the leaves and twigs under the nest had blown in there prior to the nest being built - and then somehow a bird had crawled under the truck and up into the engine to build the nest where it is shown.  To me this is amazing, as it seems to suggest that the bird was looking to burrow into a safe place to build.  As you can see, the photo shows the nest in the battery well, with the car belts and engine behind it.

 

 

 125. Evelyn McLean-Cowan, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

 
For a few years we have had a Mourning Dove family make their nest on the ladder that we store horizontally on our garage wall. When we were getting the garage ready for our daughter's graduation party, not only was there a Mourning Dove nest, but an American Robin family had moved in as well. To let our party guests know about our bird inhabitants, I made a sign that said Baby Birdie Maternity Ward. The guests were intrigued with the birds and the birds didn't seem to mind the festivities.

126. Daria Sorokina, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A couple of American Robins built a nest inside a traffic light on a busy intersection right next to Carnegie Mellon University (Forbes & Craig  streets). They raised three nestlings there. The birds have left by now, but the nest is still clearly visible in the traffic light.

 

 

 

127. Lori Piper, Naples, Florida

Black-chinned Hummingbird built her nest on top of this wooden hanging Cardinal – still swings but the wings are glued in place because it was broken.  Taken at a friends house/courtyard in Sun City Arizona.  Camera used Canon Rebel XSi with Tamron 18-200 lens.
Submitted at the suggestions of friends who viewed this photo on my Facebook page and thought it was a pretty cute photo.  She had fledged her babies by the time we returned, about 10 days later – all were gone but the nest was still there.

 

128. Glenda Michael Exner, Bellingham, Washington

We're located on over 4 acres in town in Bellingham.  We cherish ALL the varieties of birds who make the trees above us their home (flickers, pileated woodpeckers,towhees, evening grosbekes, yellow finches, so many more...) AND...

 

130. Brenda Tripp, Anna, Illinois

I'm entering this contest because the staff at the Cache River Wetland Center in Southern Illinois knew how much I enjoyed nature and photography and they suggested I might want to enter your contest.   They were right!   What fun, now I am constantly looking for funky nests in funky places.

 

 

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