Some birds spend lots of time constructing elaborate nests; others don’t bother with a nest at all.
Monk parakeets build some of the most complicated nests, multi-level structures with with multiple entry points. Their nests are like fortresses and are woven from thorny twigs. These little green birds spend both time and effort in keeping the nests in good shape year-round.
White-winged doves, by contrast, pile a few flimsy twigs together and that’s their so-called nest. It is not only flimsy, but often located in questionable places, like on window ledges or in empty flower pots.
Some birds just skip nests altogether. Hawaii’s white tern lays her eggs on any flat surface that’s handy, including bare tree branches and rock ledges.
The bald eagle uses large sticks and limbs to construct a nest about six feet wide.
On the other hand, a tiny hummingbird will use spider webs and a few leaves to construct a nest about the size of a small teacup.
Another really big nest is built by the social weaver bird in South Africa. It’s constructed in thorny acacia trees and the ones I saw looked like thick brown mud daubed all over the trees. These constructions weigh several tons and serve as home to large colonies of birds.
The most unusual nests that I have ever seen were those of the Montezuma oropendola, a handsome bird I saw in Panama. These nests were made of grass and palm fibers and were from three to six feet in length. They looked like big brown sacks hanging from the tree limbs.
No single nest style can be best for all birds – it takes a wild and wonderful variety to satisfy a wild and wonderful collection of birds.
Image sourced from MetroCreative
