51. Jay Eubanks, Memphis, Tennessee

In spring of 2007, a friend of mine gave me an old timber from a very old barn he helped tear down because he thought I could use it for a decorative piece. Not knowing what I was going to do with the piece at the time, I just leaned it in the corner of my carport against the wrought iron corner post that supported the carport. I was planning to replace the wrought iron posts in my carport with wooden posts, and simultaneously expand my storage room at the end of my carport as my spring home improvement project.

Meanwhile, a pair of nesting Robins had other plans. They decided the wooden post leaned in the corner of the carport was a perfect place to build a nest. The nest was built and eggs were laid before I ever noticed, because at the time I was very busy being a public school teacher. The Robins delayed my construction project by at least three weeks, but I was happy to watch them raise their young. I have attached photos of eggs, nestlings, and mom on her nest.

52. Nina Williams, Lehington, Pennsylvania

This photo was taken at 3:15 PM. On June 8th, 2009. This nest belongs to a CAROLINA WREN, regrettably - she flew away when I got 3 ft. from her nest. She built her nest in a 1 gallon plastic bucket in my toolshed.  This nest is special to me because I made a "Birdy Home Depot" and saw her shopping there, taking things back to her nest. I supplied her nesting materials and the place she put it (in my favorite dirt bucket). This nest is approx. 6 inches wide,6 inches high, the hole is front entrance. "Mama" comes to my porch every day to eat the seeds I give her.I know she will bring her babies there to eat because she is either the one who had a nest on my porch last year or she's one of the babies.  I took a hanging basket and covered it with plastic but left the front and bottom open. Then I put nesting materials in it.  It's stocked with small twigs,grass,short pieces of string, leaves, moss,feathers, dog hair,human hair (best way to clean my brush), And clumps of fuzz. As you can see, she used some of everything I supplied.  I also have a pair of CATBIRDS shopping at "my store".

                   

53. Melanie Whittington, St. Louis, Missouri

I work at Saint Louis University, located in what is known midtown St.
Louis, less than 3 miles from our downtown area.  The university is
situated in a park-like setting amid a mix of industrial complexes,
high-rises, and older homes.  In recent years, I've noticed more and
more raptors in the area.

While walking in to work one day, I noticed a pair of red-tailed hawks
gathering nesting material and flying up to one of the lights situated
about 50 feet above the university's soccer field.  My office building
is approximately 150 feet from the light, with windows facing the
soccer field.  From here, I've been able to watch their progress
periodically.  One of my co-workers brought a telescope in to monitor
any activity in the nest.  About 1 month ago, we spied 2 chicks!
There was lots of activity around the nest with the parents flying in
for frequent feedings.  Later, we spied a third chick!

The attached photo shows 2 chicks and the urban aerie.  I could never
get a clear photo when all 3 were present.

They have fledged now and fly to and from the nest during the day.
Occasionally, a parent will "drop off" a meal and continue on their
way.

 54. Don Jeffries, Arden, North Carolina

 We're new to the Asheville, NC area. We bought a new house in an established neighborhood just under two years ago that backs up to a small wooded area. We received a Christmas Wreath from a friend in Maine for which we annually hang on our front door. Last year year we left it hanging longer than usual. When we started to take it down we noticed a nest had been started so we left it up to see what would happen. This year we left it on the door much longer on purpose and a Carolina Wren built a new nest. Unfortunately there have been no eggs laid in either nest. I don't know about wren nesting habits but it would seem the nests were built by a male who found it difficult to convince a female it was a good place to start a family in such a precarious place, despite the bright and shiny red ribbon!

55. Marsha Wright, Lowell, North Carolina

The story... the nest was built in a normal place (birdhouse)... however, I believe the quality and products of the nest make it "funky".. the softest nest I have ever seen with the entire interior built from my dog's hair (left in the yard from a brushing), and with a base of moss.  Built by a chickadee.

56. Carolyn Straub, San Jose, California

I submit my photo of a pair of young Anna's Hummingbirds in a nest that was
built on a wind chime this past summer. I found the discovery neat and want
to enter it in your environmental challenge. The chimes happened to have a
bird design within, but the adult hummer who built the nest didn't know that
(?) It chose the site to have the eggs.
Neither my husband, Steve McHenry, nor I, who live directly across from this
site, at about 20 feet, even saw the adult hummingbird building this nest on
our neighbor's porch. You'd think we would have, being long-time members of
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society.
How secretive and quick the Anna's Humming bird is. Or maybe it's us. A few
months after this, another Anna's Hummingbird built her nest on top of a
tiny camera in our Jacuzzi (but I have no photo).

57. Cathy Landers, Cave City, Arkansas

We hung the fish fryer and its basket on the back porch, to get it out of the way. It was quite a shock to go to get it and find a nest, or still more shocking to have  bird fly out right past me when I approaced it. So I left it alone. For the past few years, if we want to use it, we have to wait till the birds fly to clean it up. This year, the pan was being used for something else, or stored elsewhere, but the basket is still on the porch, hanging up. The bird built her nest and raised her babies in spite of the two cats who are in residence.

 58.  Richard Bucko, Fairfax, Virginia

Nest of 7 eggs atop a propane tank in April 2009

59.  Ira McGee, Ramseur,North Carolina

Every year Grandmother left her straw hat hanging in the garage for the little House Wrens.

60.  Sarah Landers, Cave City, Arizona

This is an automatic motion activated light that my dad installed about our garage doors. This spring a swift built a next there, using mud, moss, tiny twigs or pine needles. It is sheltered from sun, rain, and wind under the eaves.  I guess they don't mind the light coming on every time a person or dog goes past!

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