Funky Nest Entries 211-220
211. Susan Weimer, Greensboro, NC
Last year a pair of Carolina Wren’s set up housekeeping in a Swedish ivy plant in the sheltered area of our deck. I went out every day and took pictures of the egg laying, brooding, feeding, growth and development of the babies and their eventual fledging. I made a Power Point presentation of the process and have presented it for several groups. I was able to document the mother sitting on the nest and the birth of the babies. In the Power Point presentation, I created funny sayings for the mother wren after sitting on the eggs for about 10 -12 days. I’d have her thinking “This is getting old!” “Did I hear something?” (like a baby attempting to get out of an egg), or “”Any day now!” I think the mother bird got used to me coming out and taking pictures, so I have a picture with her eyes glaring at me wanting to know if I was from CNN!
212. Lonna Richters, Utica, NE
We found this nest in my husband's jacket hanging on the combine last fall. We were getting the equipment ready for harvest and knew we needed a picture of this nest before we cleaned up the combine for harvest. It may have been a robin nest the summer before.
213. Margaret Crossling, Port Elgin, Ontario,Canada
This spring, a pair of grackles decided to nest in out BBQ, on the deck. We had a great time seeing the eggs, five of them, of which three babies were raised. The BBQ was crammed with twigs and straw, with the actual nest trembling on the edge, when we lifted the lid.
The babies flew early one Saturday, and we had quite a job cleaning out the BBQ, for our use. Just in time, I covered the openings as the parents were ready to raise their second family in the same place.
We have now enjoyed a steak or two, after being patient for several weeks!
214. Jeff Froke, Pebble Beach, CA
Re: American Ravens - Bloomingdale's - Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills CA
Here's why --- This was a funky nest, and thoroughly 'urban.' Driving through Beverly Hills on busy, busy Wilshire Boulevard, I stopped in traffic (at a red light) to snap the bird/nest/sign out of our car's sunroof, and was guided by the funky call of the American Ravens, both in flight and from the nest. In case you missed it, the ravens' nest is inside the "e" of Bloomingdales! The nest -- first like it that I have seen -- was pretty high up, more than the photos shows, maybe two more levels.... The light was dimming quickly and it was near sunset. I might have pulled over to get a better shot, but there is no place along this stretch of the "Miracle Mile" to do such a thing. Funky, indeed.
BTW, the advancement of ravens into urban and suburban L.A and southern California is a recent and gradual phenomena, I'd say 10-15 yrs, and expanding. Once relegated to the Calif deserts and mountains, its seems to have been a case of a few pioneers discovering folks' trash cans out on garbage day, in the coastal and valley neighborhoods, then boom. The species and the American Crows, residents since first suburbanization in the 50s, seem to be working things out, niche-wise.
215. Tim Dennis, Athens, GA
Peachtree in my backyard in Athens GA. Near my garden obviously.
216. Charley Winterbauer, Wilmington, NC
I went to the work area at the back of our house to get one of the buckets stacked on the ground (Image 1). A bird flew out as I approached. I peeked in and saw the nest. (image 2) Carolina Wren, of course, they build nests almost anywhere. I remembered the E-mail re funky nests and this fits the bill (pun intended). Now I have to use another bucket until the little ones fledge.
217. Larry Shultes
Attached photos show a robin's nest built on top of a shutter. The babies are a little crowded!
218. Jerry Theis, Sun City, AZ
On Nov 14, 2004, I arrived at the airport in Santiago, Chile, to meet my guide and fellow birders on a short birding expedition. After hailing a "blue" taxi, I finally set foot at our hotel meeting place at 2 A.M. Since I was too excited to attempt sleep and the temperature was mild, I wandered the streets, listening to the Austral Thrush, an around-the-clock songster.
As dawn slowly approached, I was waiting for the other participants to awaken when I saw a small bird fly to and from the light pole near the hotel entrance. The bird was obviously nesting. When my guide introduced himself, I mentioned the sighting. He had not noticed the bird on this or any previous visits to this hotel. As we waited for the bird to reappear, I described it as small and dark, with an obvious long tail. Soon we were all waiting, and doubts were beginning to form, when, alas, the mystery bird again visited the light pole, now in daylight. It was a Dusky-tailed Canestero, a Chilean endemic, usually found only in the scrubby hills, not in the city!
I submitted this entry because this species was nesting in an unusual setting, it was an endemic, and I found it, a life bird, myself.
219. Sue Read, Sykesville MD
I accidently found the nest while restringing my autumn clematis on the arbor. The cardinal mom flew out and I walked away. She later came back.
220. Judy Messinger,Morgantown,West Virginia
For the past three years, robins have built their nest on top of a doorway decoration on my backyard porch. The stick with its unique shape was placed atop door and draped with ivy.
Each year the robins have added on to the original nest. This year there are three fledglings. It is so great because I can look out of kitchen window and watch the daily feedings. Last year we got to see both robins teach their young the ins and outs of "flying".
Life is good!
