Discovering a bird’s nest tucked away among the branches is always fascinating, offering a glimpse into the varied shapes and materials they use to construct their homes. Here are several nests, both occupied and unoccupied, that I’ve come across this year.

… And every day the she-bird crouched on her nest, silent,
And every day I, a curious child, never too close, never disturbing them,
Cautiously peering, absorbing, translating …
~Walt Whitman