Treasure in the Trees: Scientific Clues in Birds' Nests [Slide Show]

Nests offer clues about natural history, climate change and their owners' mating habits

Field notes: House Wren (California, 1974); twigs, fine grass, skeletons of abandoned runt chicks. Sharon Beals
Field notes: Western Tanager (Nevada, 1934); twigs, bark, pine needles, animal hair Sharon Beals
Field notes: MacGillivray’s Warbler (California, 1920); Field notes: grass inside bark Sharon Beals
Field notes: American Dipper (California, 1951); moss, grass, leaves, bark Sharon Beals
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Field notes: Gray Jay (Colorado, 1938); twigs, cocoons, lichen, bark, fur, feathers Sharon Beals
Field notes: Spotted Nightingale Thrush (Mexico, 1968); moss, lichen, leaves Sharon Beals
Field notes: Verdin (Mexico, 1961); prickly twigs, spiderweb Sharon Beals
Field notes: Small Ground Finch (Galápagos Islands, 1906); grass, twigs, wild cotton Sharon Beals
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Field notes: House Finch (Arizona, 1965); thread, paper, twist ties. Sharon Beals

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