Mystery Bird Nest

For a few hours this morning, my Golden Retriever 'Oiseau' and I birded Greenbury Point, just North of Annapolis proper. We enjoyed ourselves fully.

There were fine amounts of stunning birds like WHITE CROWNED SPARROW, HOODED MERGANSER, RED TAILED and RED SHOULDERED HAWK and even an AMERICAN KESTREL hunting over the mulching facility. Sad that in a few months, that field and open space will be removed to make way for Navy rugby fields. Will the overdevelopment of our region ever cease?

Doubtful. The region's rugby players are in desperate need of a place to play their sport. Some should start an organization to help raise awareness about the thousands of wayward, field-less rugby players. This is a concern that the entire world could get behind! Forget global warming, oil wars or ending poverty. For just the price of a cup of coffee a day, you too can help rugby players find a place to play. Won't you please help?

Ok, so now for the REAL subject of today's post: I found a nest. I know, some of you out there are yawning at the thought. So what if Dan found a nest today while hiking? "Pass the remote," you're thinking. The rest of you, feel free to read on if you just can't handle the suspense.Sure, I'd rather show you video footage of the Red Tailed Hawk getting hounded by two Mockingbirds. Even better, a close up of the American Kestrel hunting over the fields! But, bird's nests are much easier to photograph.

Oiseau was pre-occupied with the scent of deer and running in large circles through the tall grass. So being that I'm rather inquisitive, I went to have a closer look. What can I say? I'm odd like that.Now I'm left to wonder about what bird built it? When did the bird and his family live there? How many eggs did mom bird lay and how large was the family that grew up (and out) of that nest? Did those chicks wind up going to college? (Ivy league, I suspect.) How much they bought their nest for, and did they sell before the big housing slump?And then I found what looks to be a dead AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (see RED ARROW) stuck in a snag of the same tree, about a foot or two below the nest:

So, is this in fact a Goldfinch nest? Did it get stuck on it's way downstairs to the kitchen for a late-night snack? Feel free to chime in and add your thoughts to the (hopefully brief) mystery.

In the meantime, how about some happy photos of Hooded Mergansers, a Canvasback (swimming and then diving) and a sleepy Ruddy Duck?

Happy Holidays (sorry for the gruesome photos),

Dan