getting a little geeky about birds today...

I thought this recent New York Times article, about black kites scavenging and intentionally selecting pieces of white plastic to decorate their nests, was fascinating on so many levels!

image courtesy www.nytimes.com

I've always loved reading about bower birds, the original avian gleaners-slash-curators who assemble elaborate courtship bowers from found materials, often carefully choosing from a limited color palette (click here for some beautiful examples... love those blues especially).   But nests in general are amazing little constructions in themselves, sort of like assemblages based on available materials and practicality.   I love examining them to see what my little bird friends have chosen as their building materials.

Out here in the country I've seen several nests with a lovely, cushy lining of horsehair; and recently encountered this little gem, cleverly woven with strips of audio tape:

 

And here is another with a beautiful assortment of colors and textures:

I could go on and on with examples, but as lunch is waiting, I will simply recommend that you do a quick online search for bird nests next time you are creatively stuck...  their ingenuity is inspiring. :)

Have a great week!