One of my most treasured objects is an old bird's nest I found, hiding behind a dead blackberry bush in my backyard. I left it there for a few weeks, checking in on it, gingerly awaiting a mama bird to reclaim her home. When said bird never came, I plucked the nest from the brambles and placed it on a cake stand. So regal, so special. I love it every time I see it.
(Image: Leela Cyd Ross)
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Ew. I grew up being told how dirty birds are. I don't know how accurate that was, but it's ingrained.
Ugh sorry, I agree with thenewssmiths. Bird nests come chock-full of bird poop, which can cause a variety of illnesses, some of which are fungal and can spread in the air -- you don't need to come in contact with the nest to get sick.
i think it's quite beautiful, free, the lines area amazing. i like the idea; i wouldn't be too worried about the germs in a long-abandoned birds' nest, but i may not feel comfortable putting it on a cake stand!
gross. gross gross gross.
i collect all manner of similar things, and have yet to become ill from them.
my half-a-hornet's nest is *awesome*.
I love it! My 5 yr. old daughter recently found a bird's nest on the ground as we were walking around the block, and she brought it home. I've been trying to figure out a way to "preserve" it, because it is kind of falling apart. Right now I have it in a big baggie. I'm thinking about trying to spray it with some spray adhesive and see if that works. I don't worry too much about the germs. We've picked up many birds' nests over the years, and never had any problems! (I just make sure we wash our hands after holding it.)
really beautiful...i have one that i took with me from an old house when i moved. a bird made it in the porch rafters above my garden, and i used to watch her up there whenever i was out working in my tiny yard. it was abandoned long ago, and was the last thing i remembered to grab before moving from my home. i have it under a big glass dome.
Frequently birds will use old nesting materials from nests that are no longer attractive. It's best to leave some replacement fibers of a similar weight and size for next year's mama birds.
Anyone with an immunodeficiency is very susceptible to the kind of infections bird droppings carry: the elderly, cancer patients, someone who's had an organ transplant, and people who have HIV are examples.
I think bird nests are lovely. If people are worried about touching them I've seen them in shadow boxes before - stunning!
i'm severely immunodeficient and i pick up feathers and nests and skulls and rocks all the time. at the moment, i'm still alive. just sayin'.
its rare to find feces in a nest. as soon as their legs are developed they begin pooping over the side - no one wants to lay around in their own poop. any wayward poop will be eaten/removed by the parent bird (gross but true).
if you're super paranoid about insects/bacteria, you can place it in a container and freeze it for three days. nothing from your nest is going to outlive that!
think how lovely your nest would look under a cloche....
I think I would just photograph it. Never bring it into my home. Icky! No telling how fresh or old it is. Yuck!