Yesterday afternoon a Talbot County resident called me with the following
report:
    Some bird is trying to nest in the middle of her husband's garden.  The
garden has been carefully tilled, and lots of vegetables have been planted.
Only a few are up.  The bird has created a cavity in the soft soil, making a
shape that very much resembles the contour of a Wok.  The diameter at the
top is over one foot.  No twigs, sticks, grass nor anything else has been
brought to the cavity.  Several days ago, eggs started to appear, at the
rate of one new one each day.  There are now seven eggs in the nest.  The
eggs are short-oval shape, and are pure white.  They are pretty close to the
size of Robin eggs, but the shape is different.  
    What bird could be doing this?  At the time of the call, no bird had
been seen visiting the nest.  The garden plot is about 60' by 60' square,
and is located on a very flat piece of ground.  The border around the garden
is normal suburban lawn on all four sides.  The total open area (including
garden and lawn) is close to two acres.
    Has anyone seen this kind of thing?
    
 
Les Roslund

Talbot County
Easton MD 21601