Find a funky nest near you!

Contest showcases unusual bird nesting sites

Spring is nesting season and some birds have a flair for the funky when it comes to finding the right real estate to lay their eggs and raise their chicks. The annual “Funky Nests in Funky Places” contest hosted by the Celebrate Urban Birds project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is underway. Look for another entertaining collection of nests in old boots, barbecue grills, motorcycle helmets, traffic signals, rakes, old tires and who-knows-what.

Participants may send in a photo, video, story, poem, or even some form of dance or artwork. Entries may be submitted in categories such as “cutest,” “funniest,” “funkiest,” or “most inconvenient.” Celebrate Urban Birds is offering a free, downloadable flyer showing some of the places you can look for funky nests in urban locations.

“Even in urban areas, we’re a lot closer to birds than you might think,” says project leader Karen Purcell. “This contest is a lot of fun but it’s also about really being aware of what’s around you and taking the time to appreciate birds and all of nature.”

The deadline for entries is June 15.

Participants should read the guidelines for approaching nests to be sure the birds are not disturbed in any way.

Contest prizes include a mini-iPad, binoculars, Pennington bird feeders, Inside Birding DVDs, Diversity of Animal Sounds CDs, beautiful posters, field guides, and much more.

To learn more about how to participate, plus terms and conditions, visit FunkyNests.org.

Celebrate Urban Birds is a free, year-round citizen-science project focused on birds in neighborhood settings.