My father-in-law, forever more in this blog to be called PAPA, called me up to tell me he found a bird’s nest for me. Excitedly, I went up to his house to get it for my classroom. I am always amazed at the construction ability of a bird–building a home for their precious offspring with their beak. Selecting every piece, carrying it back to the chosen branch, and carefully choosing the placement of every single strand. When looking closer at this nest, both PAPA and I were amazed at the amount of plastic found in it. Should we be saddened about the plastic or amazed at the ability of a bird to adapt to what it finds in its environment and use it for good?

Nearly every strand in this nest comes from a burlap like bag (made of plastic) that was found in my father in law’s garage. Is this a once in awhile occurrence? I think not. Nearly every nest I have found in the last five years has some form of plastic or man made substance in it.