7. COLLECTING NESTS 37 



7. COLLECTING NESTS 



Where it is possible to collect and preserve the nest it is useful to do so 

 since the nest may provide additional information on the species and its 

 affinities and the nests of exotic species are less well known than their eggs. 

 It is usually fairly easy to collect and preserve small nests of reasonably 

 compact structure, but this may be out of the question with others of loose 

 structure or large size. 



In every case notes on the position, construction, and shape of the nest, 

 together with information on the materials used, and if possible a sketch or 

 photograph, should be made. Where possible, the nest should be collected 

 together with the support to which it was attached or upon which it was 

 built so the parts of it are not disarranged or destroyed. The actual mode of 

 attachment may be an important feature. Polythene bags are convenient 

 for nest collection since all the material can be kept together, but care is 

 needed during transport to ensure that they are not crushed. As with eggs 

 the collector must be sure that he has correctly identified the bird that is 

 using the nest. 



In the case of ducks and geese, samples of the down with which the nest- 

 hollow is lined may be collected. 



Collecting nest parasites 



Nests are often the refuge of a large number of bird parasites, particularly 

 fleas. These can be collected by methods similar to those used for collecting 

 external parasites from dead birds (p. 9). As with dead birds it is advisable 

 that nests from which material of this kind is to be collected should be kept 

 separate from one another to avoid transference of parasites. If the nest 

 is put into a white bowl it will be possible to see and collect any insects that 

 leave it. The nest may be left in a cool dark container and examined at 

 intervals of several days for emerging parasites, or, if it is not required, may 

 be teased apart for parasites. For nests that are to be retained it is best, if 

 they are small enough, to treat them like bird bodies by putting them into an 

 air-tight container with cotton wool soaked in chloroform and then picking 

 up the parasites that fall out. These parasites should be preserved in the 

 manner described on page 10. 



Preservation and packing of nests 



The nest should be properly labelled (see section on labelling, p. 39). The 

 label should be firmly tied to the nest itself, being sewn to the structure. In 

 addition to possible treatment to collect parasites (see above) it should be 

 well-fumigated with insecticide, and a suitable deterrent should be put into 

 the container in which it is kept. The insect population of nests usually 

 includes moths and their larvae which, if allowed, will ultimately destroy 

 parts of the nest. Similar treatment is also needed for down from the nests 

 of ducks and geese since moths are often present which may destroy this 

 entirely. 



The nest cavity should be padded with cotton wool or similar material so 



