221. Barbara N. McKenna, Toms River, New Jersey

The nest in the attached photo was found by Ginny on the ground of her horse's paddock.  It looks like it was never used and probably was swept away by the wind.  The incredible work that went into this nest was not the only thing that amazed Ginny, but also the fact that it's made of horsehair from her horse, Jessie. (ed: probably Chipping Sparrow nest)

222. Kenton Yoder, New Paris, Indiana

223.   Robin and Stephen Taylor, Fletcher, North Carolina

As new bird watchers, we were so excited when we found this cool nest! We live on beautiful Bearwallow Mountain just outside of Asheville, NC and the birds are so abundant! As are the bears and the squirrels! We were amazed with how smart and brave the bird is (we think it may be a Quail's nest) that built this nest under our front porch nestled and camouflaged up in the corner so that the squirrels and bears can't get to it! We are filling our bird feeders every week to keep everyone fed! We went out and bought a new bird book and have begun to identify and log the birds we watch from our front room and porch.

Happy bird watching from atop Bearwallow Mountain!

224.  Bob & Kate Olsen

Presently the American Robins are going for a second hatch from this same nest in a set of deer antlers.  I guess they aren’t too bothered by the garage doors opening and cars going in and out.

225.   Joanna C. Maniglia, Wickliffe, Ohio

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird came to nest in the yard of a family friend last summer.  We were all amazed that the mother built her tiny nest on a clothespin that remained on a clothesline.  The clothesline hung under the friend's porch, providing some shelter to the nest.  I submitted this photo because the nest was the perfect size, shape, and weight for the clothespin. The mother was an amazing architect to construct the nest here.  It was made up of pieces of leaves, moss, spider webs, and other materials.  Everything about the nest's construction was incredible.  We watched the mother come and go throughout the summer and enjoyed seeing the babies when they hatched.  When they were close to fledging, I was able to get nearby the nest and photograph the babies.  The tiny babies were always side by side, never moving, and always with their beaks in the air.

226.  Tom and Pat Whyte, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

227.  Dirk Ellingson, Independence, Missouri 

Every year and multiple times each season, mourning doves (or maybe it's the same one) nest behind my basketball goal.  I can only shoot baskets in summer's worst heat when the dove has moved on.  But we always get spring and fall fledglings that like the protection behind plexiglass and the sliver of shade from the roof overhead.

228. Brian Pierce, Green Bay, Wisconsin

The Barn Swallows love to nest right over the front door of our house. They were cute the first two years, but I wanted to discourage them, not from leaving, but from building right over the door, and to just move to the opposite end of the porch. 
The board on the overhang didn't work, so I hung the owl thinking that would do the trick. These photos are what the barn swallows thought about that...

229.  Stella Jones, Henrico, Virginia

 A pair of Carolina Wrens built their nest in the shelf at the base of this St. Francis statue's niche...how appropriate!  This statue has been in my family for over 50 years and has graced the walls of a half dozen homes in California and Virginia, but this is the first time it has been used as a nesting site.  I was amazed how the wrens customized their nest into a horizontal tunnel shape to fit the shelf (not very visible thanks to the nearby wisteria, but I didn't want to disturb the area to get a better photo).  I trust that St. Francis will guard the little family well!

230. Seamus Palmer, Somerville, Massachusetts

Even birds like Starbucks!

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