photo by: Donna Santarossa Windsor, ON, Canada, Morning Dove
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, located in Ithaca NY, announces the launch of their annual 'Funky Nests in Funky Places'contest. This popular contest focuses on the quirky places birds sometimes build their nests. Participants have found nests on tiny skyscraper ledges, in barbecue grills, traffic lights, wind chimes, flower pots, an old motorcycle helmet, or just about anywhere. Go outside this spring and check out store signs, streetlights, balconies, traffic lights, gutters, downspouts, rooftops, stadium lights, light fixtures, grills, utility poles, potted plants and more! You’ll be amazed at what you’ll find, and be sure to share your discoveries.The contest is geared towards the general public, they are not looking for professional photographers, just looking for interesting stories. They hope that people of all ages will participate, and will accept diverse types of entries like poems or videos. Youth are encouraged to submit entries (please identify youth entry in the description)."Wherever you find a bird's nest, send in a picture, video, poem, or artwork about it," explains project leader Karen Purcell. " You could win binoculars, bird feeders, online courses, posters, and much more."Nesting season is well underway, so everyone is invited to head outdoors to enjoy nature and find nesting birds in unexpected places. Participants don’t have to be bird or photography experts.The entry deadline is June 30.All ages are welcome to participate as individuals or with a class, community center, or afterschool program. Entries are being accepted from anywhere in the world.Find more information about how to locate nests, approach them without disturbing the birds, and how enter the contest at www.funkynests.org. In Spanish:www.nidoschiflados.org. The contest is hosted by the Celebrate Urban Birds citizen-science project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.