Some birds reuse their nests. I know it's actually against the law to take a hummingbird nest. It's still nesting season. Would be better to wait until fall if you really want it.

Too late, as I said, it is in the garage. For some reason, I didn't think birds reused their nest. Anyone know what type of bird has brown speckled eggs?

Anyway, we need to trim the bush/tree. That's how we discovered the nest to begin with. I was getting ready to cut into the bush when I saw it.

A fellow longhaired friend told me that when she cleans out her brushes, she collects the hair and places it outside for birds to use in building their nests. And they do. I try to do the same (when I remember).

And no, that's not OT -- just another facet of "home decorating." ;-)

I have bad news for you. It is illegal (under Federal Law) to possess any wild birds' eggs or nests. This would apply to migratory and non-migrating, non-game and non-pest species birds. This also applies to their feathers.

Most migratory birds are also protected by the CITES international treaty.

Like ivory, I believe that nests and egg collections that were collected many years ago are exempt. But recent stuff requires a U.S Fish and Wildlife permit.

My late mother was a professional ornithologist and I inherited her large collection of nests and eggs collected from abandoned nests. Although she had a Fish and Wildlife permit for the collection, I do not. I am not tempted to display any of it, though, because it was stored with moth balls and now stinks. I really should try to locate a permited collection and donate it, or simply compost it. I am sentimentally attached to it, however. I am not so attached to the hundreds of vials of ectoparasites in floating formalin or alcohol that she collected from birds and their nests. Ick!

L

Eeek, the nest was coming down sooner or later with the removal of 1/4 the bush/tree. I'll throw it away if I really must. In the meantime, I will be looking out for the authorities.;)

I believe that I would go ahead and donate your mothers collection. We have a wonderful nature preserve and museum near our home. The school children love to go visit.

You mentioned ivory. My grandmother passed down an ivory tusk of some sort to my mother. It is beautiful and has been carved in a long spiral, looking similar to a unicorns horn. The tusk has a needlepoint screen attached to it. When we were children, we were told that if we touched the tusk, we would be in trouble. Evil would come to us. I know understand that the ivory tusk is quite valuable.

The ivory tusk is only valuable if you have satisfactory documentation that it was collected before the ban was enacted. Otherwise it is contraband and subject to seizure. Since it came from your grandmother, it most likely was collected pre-ban, but it would be worthwhile finding some evidence of that (even old pics, will do). A qualified art appraiser may also be able to satisfactorily date the overall object to a period before the ban, as well. I know it may seem like too much government meddling, but tusks are only acquired by killing mature elephants which is why the ivory trade nearly wiped out the species.

Since legal ivory trade is almost non-existent now, documented old ivory may be even more valuable as raw material for repairing ivory objects (piano keys, musical instruments, inlays, etc.).

I really don't think the authorities will burst into your house and arrest you for having the nest. I was very sorry to have to post the info and dampen your pleasure. But I am always on alert for when birds' eggs, nests or feathers start to get mentioned as fashionable for decoration. That's when true environmental harm can start: as people begin to seek out nests and don't undertsand how harmful it can be.

I have to confess that I sometimes display (for a short period) a nest found during winter walks, and very often bird feathers lost from molting or even broken egg shell fragments I find. But they are only transitory things on my desk for a day or so, then out they go. I love looking at the colors mostly.

My mother's collection wouldn't be a draw to non-scientists, for various reasons. And it wasn't gathered here in the US, so it's not local species. But you're right, I should do something with it - if only because I am in my 60's and eventually someone else will inherit the responsibilty for it.

L

We do have photos - with dates - for the ivory tusk. Thank you for the information.

I tried to find the post where someone had their nest displayed. Does anyone remember?

Was it lynneinnewmexico?

Newhomebuilder, wash the outside of the eggs with disinfectant. With a straight pin, poke a small hole in each end of each egg. Put your lips to the now-clean egg and blow the contents out into the trash. Discard. Run watter through the tiny egg holes, and allow to drain completely dry. Now you can display them safely. Otherwise they will rot and stink.

As for the nest, I'd be tempted to sterilize it too. One way to do that would be to spray it with a mist of Oxine, or dilute GSE. Another way that works for some things is to bake them in a 200 degree oven for 1/2 hour, but I'm not sure how a nest would hold up to that. I use a lot of Oxine around my parrots and dogs, and for cleaning in the kitchen. It kills everything Clorox does, but without the bleaching and without the toxicity.

Here is a link that might be useful: Oxine

Please do not blow the eggs by placing your mouth on them! Eggs, especially old eggs can certainly have bacteria in them. You could use a straw to try to blow the eggs but I expect the contents will no longer be very liquid and may even have freeze-dried.

My DH found a nest in a tree that had blown down and I double-bagged it and placed in in the freezer for awhile. I read somewhere that will kill any parasites. I also keep it in an apothecary jar so it doesn't get dusty or become a cat toy.

Since you now have the nest and want to keep it, the most important thing is to somehow make sure it's safe to handle.