Whose Nests Are These? (Ground Nests)
Below are three small descriptions of finding different ground nests. I offer them as a game. I do not name the birds in the three accounts but offer images of the nests themselves and some features of the eggs and the nest sites. There are some good books out there which describe and detail bird nests to varying degree. You can also use the Cornell Lab of Ornithology NestWatch website to search up nests to help confirm your guesses. Average sizes of eggs captioning each photo are taken from the book Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Birds' Nests by Hal H. Harrison.
Average size of eggs : 57.8 mm L x 41.6 mm W
On April 27th, 2021 one of the kids I was hanging out with jumped over a log and almost landed atop this nest. It was tucked under a small lean to of sticks in the midst of an Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) forest, between a small clean river and a ridge about 20m away. The kid spooked the bird from the nest and we quickly, like 10 seconds, looked at the nest and then backed away from the area to ensure that the brooding female would return. Later as we left the forest, we snuck up behind a smaller ridge and looked at the nest through a monocular. The brooding female was back on their nest and appeared unconcerned about us.
I didn’t get to stick around and measure the diameter of the nest or the size of the eggs, but there were 10 eggs, kind of a white colour with a subtle blue-green hue. The eggs were surrounded, and likely bedding on down feathers from the female.
Average size of eggs : 62.6 mm L x 44.6 mm W
May 6, 2018, I was on the Bruce Trail near Orangeville with the tracking apprenticeship during my first year. We were tracking these birds, looking for foot prints in the sandy wallows where they dust bathe. I ended following a path I thought was going to lead to some possible Fox (Vulpes vulpes) den but as I ducked up into a little bit of a small ridge, I spooked a female from her brooding. I wanted to follow her, but then I noticed she had this big clutch of eggs so I pulled out my camera instead. There were 5 eggs, mostly white with some brown speckling.
Average size of eggs : 38.9 mm L x 29.6 mm W
I can’t remember the date when I came across this nest… I believe it was Spring, but isn’t that when most birds are laying? I may not remember the date but I remember the story. I was walking back to the school with some students when we spooked this bird. The kids started walking back to the main fire when I and one or two others stayed and looked at the nest (I think the other kids missed it entirely). I crouched down and counted the eggs, and looked around. 10 eggs, but no real structure to the nest. It was well placed, close to the base of an Eastern White Cedar and could not be seen from most other directions. We didn’t want to stay too long so we went back to camp.
The next morning I crept out in hopes of seeing the female on her nest. She and her nest were so well hidden! I was there the day before and I couldn’t find it. Turns out she noticed me before I saw her and she flew off suddenly into the woods. Some of the eggs even tumbled out and away, down the incline of the hill she was nesting on. I retreated after pushing her off, but only after hanging a piece of paper from a broken branch on the tree which she was at the base of so I could find her easier the next day.
The next day as I got close, I saw the female running off into the woods. As soon as I saw this I left, clearing the trail back to camp as I went.
The next day after that I crept close, but this time I took off my boots. I had cleared some of the trail I planned on taking the day before as I walked back to camp knowing I was going to check again. The ground was still cold on my bare feet but I was set on seeing her on the nest. I crept as quietly as I could and finally got close enough to notice the brown paper attached to the tree above her, but I still couldn’t see the nest. I crept quietly closer, pulled out my monocular and finally saw her, so well hidden, so well camouflaged. I was amazed. What a beautiful bird. I saw very quietly watching her sit on her nest for about 5 minutes, but honestly it felt like 20. Eventually I softly said thank you and backed away slowly, staying low until I was out of sight.
A couple of days later it snowed, but just enough to see some tracks. I found the trail of a Raccoon (Procyon lotor) and followed them into the forest. I trailed them up towards where our camp was and then I ditched the Raccoon trail and went towards the nest, just to see how things were going. When I got there I was heart broken. There were egg shells strewn about, with traces of blood within them. I think I found out where the Raccoon had gone.
