How could we choose?  With over 700 entries we knew it would be tough but we didn't know we would love almost every single entry.  Each nest tells of perseverance and inspiration.  Like the Book, 'Millions of Cats," where each kitten is more beautiful than the last one, we were entranced by each new entry we read.  Thanks to everyone who discovered, watched, and documented the nests around them, and took the time to send their entry to us.  

Reviewing the entries is a reward you all can enjoy, and so we've invested considerable time in making the entries visible.  And when you look at one by following the links below, you'll doubtless see another one just as good right next to it. 

Some of the people recognized below will be awarded prizes, and we will be contacting prize-winners by email privately. 

Thanks to all the entrants.  

 

We noticed interesting patterns, for instance, the birds that inspired the funniest stories were also the birds who most often inconvenienced (or helped) those wanting to do outdoor chores, and were most likely to be American Robins. Nests in garages were overwhelmingly but not exclusively built by enterprising Carolina Wrens.  Hummingbirds like to build nests on clothespins...we got two different entries, who would have predicted this! Hummingbirds like an elevated site under a protected porch roof, and will build on chimes, bird sculptures, bike chains, and ornamental lights! We've created a special page of hummingbird nests, we got so many fantastic entries. 

Really Funky Nests

271. Joan Costello, Ithaca, New York: 'Do-Dee' video
442. Pauline Schafer & Tobias Hagge,  Texas: Eggs in ash can
483. Pat Schlegel, Castle Hayne, NC: Nest in work shoes
560. Elizabeth Craig:  Ithaca, NY,Herring Gull nest and skull

Nests in bathroooms

95. Maureen LR Bloesch: In tissue box in bathroom
374. Keith Byerly, Texarkana, AR: Bathroom stall
145. Jodie Hayes, Boulder, Colorado: Bathroom window

Funny Nests & Entries

82. Alton Chesarek, St. Albans, Vermont, robins make man lonely
91. Carson Winkel, Rockwall, Texas (Ohhh! )
97.  Marc Severson, Tucson, AZ , Bird brain story
122. Barbara Sharik, Jones,  Louisiana (in the garbage)
125. Evelyn McLean-Cowan, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin...birdy maternity
133. Betty Calhoun, Searcy, Arkansas, nest on fake owl
and
228. Brian Pierce, Green Bay, Wisconsin, nest on fake owl
and
296. William D. New, Austin, Texas, nest on fake owl
and
371. Brenda Best... nest on fake owl

195. Katie Long, Fort Worth, Texas, swallow annex
210. Roberta Ritchie,Hope Valley, RI, nest re-use
298.5 Janice Tucker, Santa Fe, New Mexico, nest in donation box
335.  Christine Degraves, Holland ,MI, goose nest in tree
355. Laura Van Scoyoc, Woodstock, MD, swallows on thermometer
378. Dawn Gauthier, Bellingham, WA, nest next to bird repelling device
424. Alan Williams, Rushville,  NY: Rooster's Nest
459. Alan Grenon, Seattle, Washington, nest in sneakers
482. Kendra Dunn, Goochland, VA, bluebirds reading paper

Great Photos

6. Marian Mendez, Hilaeah, Florida, Mockingbird babies cuddling
73. Barbara Galyean, San Angelo, Texas, nest in a coffee can
86.  Debbie and Jeff Myers, Tucson, Arizona, hummingbirds on chain
99.  Jerry Marmon, Fort Ripley, Minnesota, blue eggs
143. Laura Ditlevson, El Paso, Texas, little white egg in a sea of green
145. Jodie Hayes, Boulder, Colorado, House Finches through a screen
184. Jerry Acton, Berkshire, New York, right into phoebe mouths
199.  Tim Boyle, Minneapolis, Minnesota, lone American Robin baby
205. Odis Johnson and Kathleen Riley McMahon,nest in a roll of wire
221. Barbara N. McKenna, New Jersey, Chipping Sparrow nest in teacup
279. Rebecca Limback, Missouri, Eastern Phoebes above porch light
313.   Mary Ellen Bennett, Beacon, New York, House Finches, porch light
430.  Jacquie Tinker, Valley Falls, NY, Tree Swallows in cannon
431. Jerry (6) and Sadie (4) Morley, Gates Mills, Ohio, eggs in a fern
510. Herb Unkrich, Edwards, Illinois, Bluebird nest in cultivator

 

Nests that most inconvenience humans

5. Allen Krum, Towson, Maryland: basketball hoop
15.  Nevada Caparulo, Cameron, NY, Robin nest in tractor engine
92.  George Janson, Fort Collins, Colorado: solar radiation instrument
123. Larry Jordan, Oak Run, California, bluebirds in security cart
180. Mary Chamberlain, Lorimor, Iowa, Carolina Wren in blanket
278. Steve Brown, Kamas, Utah, on water gate valve
399. Keven Roth, Victor, MT, nesting on spikes causes sleep loss
417. Mike Bielkiewicz, Waterford, New York, Tree Swallows  in news box
483.  Pat Schlegel, Castle Hayne, NC: In shoes 

Precarious nests

 9. Fran Cumbow, on water spout
101. Richard and Brenda Bourcier, Robin nest held on with bungee cords
444. Jeanine Summers, Las Cruces, New Mexico, finches on thorns

Great stories

89. Kay Pryer, Tulsa, Oklahoma: on porch
111. Kelly Vohs, Goodrich, Michigan, nest on t-pee
187. Caroline Stafford, Lincoln Academy, South Dakota: Robin at school
190. Linda Pointer, Columbus, Ohio, mother Mallard
323.  Judy Roe, Manhattan, Kansas, tornado story
375. Bobbi Dosmann, Lakeville, IN, clothes pin bag nest
411. Diana DeMille, Phoenix, Arizona, Rock Pigeons on cooler
426. Martha Swan, Thaxton, MS, tossing bottle caps
432. Margaret Lerom, Fairfield, Iowa, killdeer
478. Mary Lavine, Punta Gorda, Florida, stubborn Dove
486. Terri Smialek, DeKalb, IL, 138 House FInches fledge from one nest!

Poignant entries

118. Doris J. Lombard, Mountain Center, California (poem)
292. Chuck & Barbara Belensky, VA, nest and toxic chemicals
336. Bill O'Brien, Newark DE, nest surrounded by toxic chemicals
311. Ellen B. Amodeo,  Derby, Connecticut, loss of husband
346. Doris J. Lombard, Mountain Center, California, exposed towhee nest
401. Megary Sigler, Baltimore, Maryland, Welcome Home!
429. PJ Schimmel, Norwalk, CT, birds make better tenant
474. Cyane Lowden, Richmond, Virginia: In a carpenter's belt

Nests in garages and tool sheds

67. R.J. Smith, Tallapoosa, Georgia, in old pot
86.  Debbie and Jeff Myers, Tucson, Arizona: Hummer on a bike chain
67. R.J. Smith, Tallapoosa, Georgia, in funnel
138. Lynn Carroll, Bellingham, Washington: On the weedwhacker
380. John and Barbra Freed, wren behind POM bottle

Nests built on garden implements

168. Glen and Maxine Moore, Unionville, Michigan, on a broom
172.  Margaret Harris, Lexington, South Carolina:  On a toilet plunger
248. Sunday Mitchell, Slidell, Louisiana, dove on a hoe
285.  Charlie Trautmann, Sciencenter, Ithaca, NY, on a snow shovel

Nests on ladders

136. Patricia Lynch & Stan King, Santa Clara, California, Mourning Dove
175. Rolanda Tovey, Canada, husband can't use ladder
408. James Gracey, Norfolk, Massachusetts, American Robin on ladder

Nests in signs

44.  Rosanne Murphy, Brooktondale, New York, in an 'a'
45. Scott Staats, Prineville Oregon, deli
114. Michele Wellard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: In library letters
214. Jeff Froke, Pebble Beach, CA, raven in 'e'
230. Seamus Palmer, Massachusetts, House Sparrow in Starbucks
233. David Alexander, Roseland, New Jersey, Fed Ex
291.  Jo Dingler, Naples Florida, woodpeckers in architectural trim
307. Alice K. Boardman, Chestnut Hill,  Massachusetts, CVS sign
318. Suzan Kerpetenoglu, Baltimore, Maryland, Credit Union, thrifty bird
319. Rhonda Smith, Pittsburgh, noticed by 5 year old, taken w/ phone
353. N. Vijayan M.D., Folsom, CA,  'S' is for swallow
376. Darnell and George Schalasky, Oblong, IL, CVS
389. Carol DeWitt, House Sparrow in pizza sign
410. Jan Rycroft, Stratford, Ontario, Canada, easy home
422. Chelle Martin, South Amboy, NJ, Sparrow Abode

 Photo by Carol DeWitt, House Sparrow in pizza sign

Hummingbird nests

To view our special page of Hummingbird nests click here

American Robin nests

31. Barb Volker, windowsill
51. Jay Eubanks, blue eggs
80.  Timothy Lipetz, Worthington, Ohio, behind a curtain
89. Kay Pryer, Tulsa, Oklahoma, mealworm subsidy
171. Amanda & Nicholas Jones, Lexington, Kentucky, turdus migratorius
173. Val Murphey, Richmond, Virginia: On a bulletin board
293. Kathleen V  Farr, on bear sculpture
362. Karl, on insulation sheets

Carolina Wren nests

23. Bet Zimmerman, Woodstock, Connecticut: In a boot
30. Rod Sallee, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: In garage
52. Nina Williams, Lehington, Pennsylvania, plastic basket
61. Brenda S. Scott, Tallahassee, Florida, tv antenna
117. Robert J. Baker, Ruckersville, Virginia, motorcycle throttle
139. Jo Skoglund, Havana, Illinois, laundry basket
148. Sandra McGibbon, Massachusetts: Electric timer/coffee can
156. Ella Clem, Frankfort, Kentucky, refusal to use wren house

Mourning Dove Nests

17. Diane O'Keeffe, South Boston, Massachusetts, flowerbox nest
65. Paul Conzelman, Lafayette, Louisiana, in new shed
72. Kenlynn Schroeder, Baltimore, Maryland: In a flower pot
93. Karen Willies, British Columbia, Canada, on garage wall in pot
105. Marty Frentzel, Albuquerque, New Mexico, on elk antlers
113. Jim and Judy Visger, Queen Creek, Arizona, on hay mower
146. Dave Schultz, Mc Donald,  Pennsylvania, at airport
159. ChÈ Xyang,  Queensland, Australia, on security cameras
170.  Sharon Clawser, Lititz, Pennsylvania, window above door
182. Jennifer and Caroline Gans, Sarasota, Florida: On windshield
247. Craig Newsom, Chatham, IL, mom and 2 babies
395. Mary Sather, Albuquerque, NM, on top of ladder
418. Linda Mizzell, Laguna Niguel, California, on air conditioning unit
443, Ron Violette and his daughter Ronda Violette, in flower box

Highest nest

 53. Melanie Whittington, St. Louis, MO, Red-tailed Hawks in soccer lights

Lowest nest

129.  Dennis Mackey, Idaho Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Boise, Idaho: killdeer nest in cow pie
142. Louise Brown, Kamas, Utah, American Avocets
165.  Angela Mangiameli, North Carolina, Wilson's Plover in campfire
455. Shelby Evans, Florida, Black-necked Stilt with golfball 

Largest nest

457. Katie Ramsey, Arcata, California, nest in Africa

Automotive/engine Nests

27. John Pelafigue, Mckinleyville, California: In plane engine
38.  Michael and Marion O'Brien,  Alabama:  glove compartment
116. Minal Mistry, Bakersfield, California: Raven in a truck
123. Larry Jordan, Oak Run, California: In a golf cart
124. Nancy A. Piotrowski, San Francisco, California, instead of battery
155. Louis Barkemeyer, El Cajon, California: In an RV
178.  Connie Owen,  Virginia: Osprey on construction equipment
234. Barbara Kelly and Joanna Winkler,  Connecticut, in truck engine
277. Ed Endemano, 2002 Chevy Pick-up truck
493. The Reb Family, Felton, DE: In minibus engine

Most nests

33. Lucy Wilson, FreeSoil, Michigan: American Robins on a ladder

Succinct caption

450. Carlos Humphreys, El Paso,  Texas, nest in toolbox 

Urban nests

21. Nancy Mone, New York City, New York: light poles in NYC 
70. Kathryn M. Conway, Nassau, New York, in traffic signal
107. Kate St. John, Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania, In Don't Walk signal light
126. Daria Sorokina, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Traffic light
238. Cliff Shackelford, Austin, Texas, on top of street signs

Wreath nests

121. Jan Baker, Severn, Maryland
128. Glenda Michael Exner, Bellingham, Washington, Mrs. Robinson
192. Laura Blakesley, Charlotte,  North Carolina, twig wreath
384. Rev. Marion Haynes-Weller, on church door
326.  Janette Allen, Fort Collins, Colorado, House Finches
364. Tom Powers, Branford, CT , on sister-in-law's door
400. Gabe Savage, Bellingham, WA , pretty wreath,perfect nest

Nests in flower pots

20.  Janis Lafluer, Boise, Idaho, finch
104. Mark Eden, Palm Bay, Florida: In a potted palm tree
115. Thomas Salpas, Port Charlotte: Florida , flower pots
140. George Schmitt, Virginia Beach, Virginia: In a pot
276. Ken Betche, Dayton, Ohio, in plastic hanging plant bag
361. Jean Ketchum, Lawrence, MI, Chipping Sparrow
468. Emily McMahon, Bellevue, Washington, in hanging basket

Industrial nests

110. Andrew Warner, Chesterfield, Virginia  small white egg, big machine
150.  Bob Schallmann, Seal Beach, California : Razor security wire
278. Steve Brown, Kamas, Utah, in old railroad car
343.  Jenni and Dennis Cronk, Paoli, Indiana, in router
385. Marilyn Bowes, Grant, Alabama, on propane tank
405. Jackie Turbidy, St. Simons Island, Georgia, on tower

  Andrew Warner, Chesterfield, Virginia  

Unusual birds

18.  Beth Westphal, Scandia, Minnesota, cliff swallows
48.  Nancy Hoffman, Redondo Beach, California, owls
77. Carroll and Susanne Barrymore, California, Pacific Slope Flycatcher
98. Dr Craig T. Symes, South Africa, Red-headed Weaver
104. Mark Eden, Palm Bay, Florida, Great-horned Owl
132. Huw Williams, Cumming, Georgia, Storks
144.  Carole May, Anacortes, Washington: Pelagic Cormorants
265. Stephen Garrepy,  Florida,Yellow-crowned Night Heron 
272.  V. Arlene Frodey,  Australia, Yellow-breasted Sunbird
286. Mary Roen, River Falls, Wisconsin, cowbird eggs in nest
327.  Danny Rasmussen, Bushtit nest
363. Dorothea P. Zysko, Punta Gorda, Florida, Burrowing Owls
402. G Kurcina, Jax, Florida, Yellow-crowned Night Herons
445. V. Arlene Frodey, Fremont, Michigan, Common Nighthawk

Multiple species: One location

43. John D. & Sadie Meakin, wren and robin
209. Carol Coogan, three bird broods
300. Shirley Thompson, Texas, Swallow, birdhouse, Canyon Wren nest 

Nests in odd places 

50. (Mrs.) Doreen Uphouse, Concord, California, on feeder
63. Kati Anderson, Prescott, Arizona, Doggie bag dispenser
81. Barbara Walker, Palm Harbor, Florida: Osprey on satellite dish
106.  Barbara Korpi, Mobile, Alabama: On a satellite dish
111. Kelly Vohs, Goodrich, Michigan: On a teepee
158. Ron Forehand, Bogart, Georgia: In dog’s bed
164. Rachel Smith, College Station, Texas : In a beer bucket
185. Michael Shelbert, Hagerstown, Maryland: In a squirrel proof feeder
197.  Lila Quillin, Berlin, Maryland: Nest on a turtle
306.  Kathy Staley, Lebanon, Ohio, sail cover
312.  Lynne Marquess, Adamstown, Maryland, gas pump
339. Phil Wegener, Bellingham, WA, boat hitch trailer
345. Debra Woodward, St Louis: in Shoe Factory Museum
377. Holly Masturzo,  Cape Canaveral, FL, orbiter nose section
393. George Brooks, Ephraim, UT: Crotch of dummy
460. Crystal Lynn Parson, Pleasant Hill, Missouri, in deer target
523. Brooks Parmelee, New Haven, Connecticut, in the crook of an arm

Nests in helmets

24. Holly Dunbar, helmet
34. Jackie Jimmerson, helmet
90.  Martina Martin, Media, Pennsylvania: helmet
206. Jim Drummond,Georgia: And they say Birds aren't smart 

Nests in canoes

37. Tom Knapp, Harrisonburg, Virginia: In Canoe
66. inverted canoe
200.  Anne Marie Smith, Rose Valley, Pennsylvania: In canoe
434. Bob and Em Kemnitz, Glennie, Michigan: In canoe

 Nests in grills

40. Nikkii Carlisle, Lafayette, Indiana

49. Sandra Jones, Perth, Ontario, European Starling nest
68. Bob and Linda Smith, Prescott, AZ, Bewick's Wren
112. Bob Dawe, Tonawanda, New York: In a grill
169. Bill Herzog, Wakefield, Massachusetts, long wait in MA
242. Larry Campbell, Macomb, MI, great collage
246.  Evalyn Bemis, Santa Fe, NM, wrens in grill
350.  Allison Bucko, Perrysburg, Ohio: Grill nest
568. Laurie Schieferstine, Verona,  New York, grill nest

Weird nest materials

268.  Daryll Myhr, Kelowna, British Columbia, Baltimore Oriole Nest
379.  Jennifer Taggart, Newburg, PA: Twine
421.  John Weinrich, Damariscotta, Maine: Eastern Phoebe, wool
446. Sonja Burgel, Sarnia, Ontario, Mourning Dove in electrical wire