Join the Funky Nests Challenge!

Ithaca, NY—The Celebrate Urban Birds project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is bringing back its "Funky Nests in Funky Places" environmental challenge! Participants sent in more than 600 entries last year. They found nests in hanging flower baskets, an old boot, a teacup, a coffee can--even on top of a clothespin, where a hummingbird built its tiny nest. Celebrate Urban Birds is a free, year-round citizen-science project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, focused on birds in neighborhood settings.

For the 2010 Funky Nests in Funky Places challenge, participants may take photos, do a painting, write a story, or shoot a video showing a bird’s nest built in some out-of-the-way or out-of-this-world place.

Photo by Jacquie Tinker, New York

“We've had such fun with this challenge,” says project leader Karen Purcell. “The theme really struck a chord with people. You wouldn't believe how many people showed us bird nests in barbecue grills, bathrooms, garden tools, and signs. We even had Tree Swallows nesting in a cannon!”

Prizes include Kaytee bird feeders and seed, sound CDs, books, Cornell Lab gift baskets, nest boxes, and more. The first 50 entrants will receive a copy of the "Doves and Pigeons" poster by Julie Zickefoose and selected images and videos will be posted on the Celebrate Urban Birds website. We'll also be creating a 2011 calendar using some of the best entries.

Email your entry to urbanbirds@cornell.edu:
 
1. Write "Funky Nests_Your First and Last Name_ Your City and State" in the subject line.
2. In the email, you MUST include your name, mailing address, and location where photos were taken.
3. Tell us why you submitted your entry to the Funky Nests in Funky Places contest.
4. Choose your best/favorite entry and send just that one, please! 
5. Read the terms of agreement
6. Be careful around nesting birds. Read more about how to find nests and what to do once you know where birds are nesting.
7. If you agree to the terms above, send us your entry before July 1, 2010. 

Visit the Celebrate Urban Birds website for more information.
 The 2010 Funky Nests in Funky Places challenge is sponsored in part by Kaytee.

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Project Contact: Karen Purcell, Project Leader, (607) 254-2455, urbanbirds@cornell.edu
Media Contact: Pat Leonard, (607) 254-2137, pel27@cornell.edu
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The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a membership institution dedicated to interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. Visit the Cornell Lab’s web site at http://www.birds.cornell.edu.

May Photo Show

Enjoy these photos from Chippewa Nature Center taken in the "Merry Merry Month of May."What a colorful and beautiful time of the year!

Mourning Dove

Dutchman's Breeches

Redbud Blossoms

Large-flowered Trillium

 Young Woodchuck

Young Bracken Fern Leaf

Dow Corning is Going Green

Dow Corning, based in Midland, is purchasing 28,800 renewable energy certificates for 2010 and 2011. According to a company press release, the certificates purchased are equivalent to the amount of energy projected to be used at Dow Corning's Corporate Headquarters which will help balance the environmental impact of the site's carbon emissions and help build new renewable energy facilities. For a full article from the Midland Daily News about the initiative, click here!

Plant Pot Recycling

Join East Jordan Plastics in their efforts to recycle leftover plant pots, flats, tags, etc. (any horticultural related items made from plastic) this season. You can drop off your rinsed pots other items at Meijer’s or Home Depot throughout the Midwest during the spring and summer months or you can arrange a pick-up for larger quantities. Last year, they collected more than 300,000 pounds of materials! Check out EJP website on how you can help make a difference.

Thanks to Abbey at Midland's Dow Gardens for passing this news along! If you are feeling left out and don't have plant pots to recycle, join Chippewa Nature Center for our annual Native Plant Sale on May 27 (CNC members only), May 28 and May 29. Just click here for more details or give us a call at 989-631-0830.

Where are the Nightjars?

Whip-poor-wills and other members of the "nightjar" family have been in serious decline for several decades.  Now, a volunteer-supported research effort is being coordinated by the Center for Conservation Biology to try to develop a nationwide survey that will provide baseline information on nightjar populations. 

Volunteers are needed in 38 states (including Michigan) to spend a couple of hours doing a once-a-year survey along pre-determined routes.  The 9-mile-long routes have 10 stopping points, where volunteers will stop and listen for the calls of the birds.  In Michigan, the survey period is June 19 - July 4.  If you would like to adopt one of these survey routes, check out this website for more information:  http://www.ccb-wm.org/nightjars.htm

Photo: Common Nighthawk. Image from Wikimedia Commons.