231. Melissa Fellows, Scottsdale, Arizona

These two nests are created by Cactus Wrens, the one on the left being the nest they inhabit and the one on the right being their “fake out” nest.  The reason I’m entering this photograph, aside from its amazing artistic “collage” effect, is that it’s in a tree smack dab in front of the Home Depot nursery next to the front parking spot (too close to the building to get the logo in the shot).  People are everywhere and these birds were not shy!  I came back several days in a row to watch the nest-building magic:  they flew in and out of the nursery gathering plant material, searching through garbage cans (hence, the printer papers, bags, and such), and making a few flights inside the lumber area for wood shavings .  These are fearless birds and the male took an occasional  break to roost atop a nearby saguaro and define his territory with that unmistakable cactus wren voice.

232. Ellen Robertson (University of Maine), Bangor, Maine

233. David Alexander, Roseland, New Jersey

 Taglines could read…

• -FedEx will be offering specials so long as you send your package along a migration corridor.

• -Deals this good won’t come around until next fall or spring.

• -New ultrafast Early Bird Delivery Rate

234. Barbara Kelly and Joanna Winkler, Vernon, Connecticut

• The "side entrance" - necessary because the nest is built right up against the closed hood.
• The only access is up from underneath the car, through the maze of engine jumble.
• The range of building materials runs from straw and feathers to plastic, styrofoam, and assorted debris.
• The eggs!

236. George Favre, Sparkill, New York

A bird's nest built in the crook between the house and the down-spout.

237. Cathy Ford, West Palm Beach, Florida

A Mourning Dove nest with the 2 chicks, while the mother was out.  She hatched them in the clay pot which held a philodendron plant, which hangs on the wall of the house.  I was afraid to water the plant, and thought it might die.  But the plant and the 3 birds all survived.

238. Cliff Shackelford, Austin, Texas

I snapped this photo of an Inca Dove nest while traveling to Austin, TX, in 2008.  As you can see, the nest's location is unique since it sits atop a street sign.  I used to live in Austin and Koenig Lane (aka RR 2222) is always super-loaded with traffic.  I got a few stares while taking the photo, but I tried to be as discrete as possible so attention would not be drawn to the nest.  Since I do not live nearby, I was not able to monitor the nest to see if the young fledged. The Inca Dove's song sounds like "no hope" which hopefully wasn't the fate of this nest!

239. Clara Stuart, Wichita, Kansas

I have never had a bird build its nest on my porch before.  So thought it was pretty wonderful to watch mother nature up close.

That sconce had a flat place to put a pot for flowers, or a big candle.  It was black wrought Iron.  Had been hanging there for a long time.  One other unusual place was a hanging basket for flowers and a wren built its nest in that, I could not water the flowers, so they all died.  Again I did not get a picture of them.  I love birds and put out feeders for them the year round.

240. Maureen Stanley, Woolwich Township, New Jersey

Each spring I plant a variety of annuals in a ceramic flower pot on our small back deck.  As June began heating up, I watered my flowers more frequently.  One day I discovered that the flowers and dirt had been pushed up and there was a hollowed-out area in the flower pot.  Inside were three beautiful white eggs mottled with brown markings.  After discovering the nest, I stopped watering the flower pot for fear of damaging the nest.  The flower pot was in plain view from our kitchen table, so we were able to watch the Carolina Wrens come and go.  Once the eggs hatched, my children were glued to the back window (instead of the TV!) to watch the mother and father wren bring grubs and insects to the babies.  Two out of three of the eggs hatched.  I have always been an avid bird lover -- taught to me by my grandparents.  After our flower pot nest, I know my children will carry on my love of nature and wildlife.

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