As I was on an afternoon constitutional, I found a nest.
The first impression I had was of a ball of white fluff. I looked closer and saw that it was, indeed, a nest. The bottom was gone, or had lost it's integrity. I felt I could examine it closer as it looked abandoned.
I guess there isn't a good sense of scale here for I believe that this is a hummingbird nest. The main structure is 2 inches across at the top and is made with grass and seed fluff from dandelions. The pattern in the background is the small weave of my computer chair.
I just looked up a few stats on humming birds. They can breed up to 3 times a year, but usually only once. They can have up to 5 eggs in a nest for the slightly larger varieties, but most average two. Hummingbirds, the ones that have not been driven to extinction, range from the Arctic Circle to the southern tips of South America and South Africa. There are several varieties in the Pacific islands that create huge colonies and the ones that live in the Andes hibernate overnight to survive the below freezing temps without being able to eat.
That is so cool!
On the Survival side of things, if you find a nest, that means there are birds. That seems obvious, but birds mean there is enough for them to eat in the area, water to drink, even if it is in nectar form and, in a pinch, food for you. Just go after the slightly slower birds and you will be fine.
Nests can be used as tinder for fires. Be sure it is abandoned and does not have man made materials in it.
What type of birds are out there? Here are a few.
There are nests everywhere. Here is another nest I found.