Home Sweet Home: Four of my favorite Bird Nests

For as long as I remember, I’ve been intrigued with bird nests.

Just the thought of what it would take for a bird to construct a nest from twigs, straw, whatever he/she found on the ground and construct a home amazed me. What contractor genes lived inside each bird who created those nests? But as I held each nest, I marveled at its creativity and construction. Some of them contained decoration like flower petals and leaves.

Of the four, my favorite was a nest constructed of what looked like pieces of straw. But inside, were leaves and other materials. Only the bird would be able to explain what they were and how he/she so carefully and strategically arranged each piece of straw, leaf and tiny piece of bark so the bird would be protected, comfy and safe in his new home.

The next nest was smaller, perfectly circular and lined with soft pieces of cotton and hair from some creature living nearby. But what amazed me most, was how this contractor managed to create such a perfectly rounded nest layer upon layer beginning at the base that was constructed with heavier material that came from some faraway place.

I loved even the color arrangement that went from dark, woody to a light brown hue that reminded me of a bird’s nest painting my mother gave to me, painted by an artist who found the nest in a tree and within an hour had her easel set up to create a masterpiece.

The next nest is the most peculiar.

It was constructed in the shape of a heart with yellowish straw that looks at the same time messy and haphazard but put together with a builder’s eye for creativity and fun. It begs the bird who constructed it to come inside and raise the family in the most architecturally unique house on the block. He might have even put an address on the tree for viewers to return when the nest is abandoned to bargain for the rights to this fabulous piece of art.

The final nest was the only one with an egg strategically placed in a corner up against a straw wall which made me imagine the builder wanted it there for protection or maybe a better view of the terrain off in the distance. Far be it from me to imagine what a bird thinks as he/she decides the position, location and possibilities of the new family dwelling. So many possibilities! So many decisions! How about resale value?

One particularly amusing story is the nest I acquired in Florence.

My husband, Jim, and I were walking past our favorite restaurant where we had enjoyed another splendid meal and dropped by just to thank him again for that yummy dinner.

While he and I were chatting quietly in a corner, he asked me a question I didn’t expect.

“What could I give you to make you happy?” he asked

He probably thought I’d say something like a treat from the desert tray or a packet of biscuits.

“A bird nest,” I answered. “I collect them and would love a nest from Florence.”

The next day he surprised me with a nest from his farm. It is my most treasured work of art.