FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Strange Nest

["Barbara Farron" <bfarron@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Today I located a type of nest I've never seen before, which may or may not 
belong to a bird:  
    (1) It is on the ground, an oval shape perhaps 12 inches or so across the 
longest part.  
    (2) Hollow in the center, the top of the ridge/sides appears to be almost 
entirely of small down type feathers, some with brownish markings.  I'm not 
sure of the structure at the bottom as I didn't wan't to disturb it.  There was 
no sign of eggs or inhabitants during the middle of the afternoon.  
    (3) The nest is almost against the trunk, under low-hanging branches of a 
large evergreen tree (probably some sort of juniper), and the tree is in a 
partly shaded area of landscaping on suburban church property on a steep hill.  
    
    (4) I have been converting the area around the juniper into a native plant 
garden, and it is full of ferns, wildflowers, a few small blueberries and an 
azalea.  Next to the native garden is a thick planting of evergreen azaleas and 
dogwoods.
    (5) The only wildlife I've seen in the garden (other than insects) are 
toads and chipmunks.
Does anyone have an idea what this nest could be?

Barbara Farron
Springfield, VA
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