I was out poking around the lower limbs of oak trees looking for galls and found this little bird nest. It is mostly constructed out of moss with catkins from the male flowers of the oak tree woven in. Around the rim, there appear to be strips of bark, and the inside is lined with fine grasses. I was amazed that it was remarkably sturdy and built from such soft plant matter. I’m sure all of the moss made excellent insulation and created a cozy and warm nest. The moss also helped camouflage it. It was neatly perched on a small limb, and a canopy of oak leaves sheltered it from the blazing summer sun and the infrequent rain shower. A few developing acorns had fallen off the tree early and landed in the nest.
If I had to guess, I would say it is a goldfinch nest based on the size, location, and plant material. That said, most goldfinch nests that I find are pretty funky in the end. There is usually a substantial layer of bird poop around the top and outside of the nest from when the baby birds start to get crowded and sit towards the top. So maybe this nest wasn’t successfully used, or it could be another bird’s nest.
Finding this nest makes me want to go back and reread Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer. I can’t remember if she talked about birds gathering moss and contributing to its dissemination.
I love finding a bird nest. They are all so unique and beautifully made. I hope you are enjoying your summer. See you out there.
