Laura does need more nests.  She requests though that they be double or triple stranded and very TIGHTLY knit or crocheted--and must hold a bowl shape on their own.  (Mini infant caps will not work!)  Some of the nests they received in the past allowed little legs to poke through which can cause injuries to the baby animals. =(

"I volunteer for a our local SPCA's Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Group.  When folks bring in orphaned or injured wildlife (birds, ducks, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, opossums, anything!), we have volunteer transporters who pick up the animals and deliver them to volunteer wildlife rehabilitators who mend and raise the animals and then release them back out (there are are few who are unable to be released due to severe injuries such as blindness, lameness, etc.)  This is an ALL volunteer, NON-paid group. We need crocheters and knitters to make small, tightly stitched birds nests, which we use to hold the very young hatchling birds that need to stay warm until their feathers come in.  These nests are from the size of a half-soda can, up to a size of a preemie hat.  You can make up any pattern where you crochet a flat circle using single crochet (increasing the number of stitches with each row so that the circle doesn't curl, and then when it's about 3 - 5 inches across, you continue to single crochet but do NOT add on any stitches.  This will build the "wall" of the hat that stands straight up. This is a great way to use up scrap yarn, as those naked little babies don't care WHAT  color nest they are in!  It's best if you use yarn that's not too fuzzy as their toes tend to get snagged on the fuzz. 
This is one of the smaller nests, plus she rolled down the edges for the photo.  Cute, huh? We put paper towel pieces in the bottoms because they poop after every feeding and it's easier to pull out the paper towel and put in a clean one, that to put them in a clean nest a dozen times a day. Kind of like a diaper.  We rescue about a dozen or more baby birds every day!  Some are a lot more "naked" and "ugly" than these fellas, and they need the nests even more!!! 

We now have 3 places who all need tightly-made nests:
 
Laura Baity
2134 Bayberry Street,
Virginia Beach, VA 23451

http://www.vbspcawildlife.com/

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Wildlife Response, Inc.
attn:deborah hoover-powers
PO Box 2904
Chesapeake, Virginia 23327-1687

http://www.wildliferesponse.org/

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New address- April 2009

Wild Baby Rescue
Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
14 Grouse Mountain Road
Blairstown, NJ 07825
nests - Hope Davison

908-272-3566
http://www.wildbabyrescue.org/

PATTERNS

CROCHETED Artificial Bird Nest

Several yards of Worsted weight yarn.  Hold 2 or 3 strands together for a TIGHT stitch!

Size H hook
Starting ring:  Crochet 3 chains using 2 or even 3 strands of yarn held together, and slip stitch last chain to first chain to make a loop or ring.

Round 1: Chain 2 (this counts as your first “stitch), work between 10 – 15 single crochets into th ring (depending on what thickness yarn you are using).  Slip stitch the last single crochet to the top stitch in the chain 2 that started this round.
Round 2: Chain 2. Single crochet into each of the next two stitches, then do 2 single crochet’s into the next stitch, single crochet into the next two stitches, then 2 single crochet’s in the the next stitch. And on and on around the circle. Slip stitch your last single crochet into the top of the chain 2 that started this round.
Round 3, 4, 5, 6, and on: Repeat Round 2 over and over, until your circle is at least 3” big. You can make your nest with a bottom as small as 3” big, up to maybe 6” big.

Once you have made the bottom of the nest from 3” to 6” big, from all rounds thereafter, crochet ONE single crochet into each stitch. You will see your “sides” begin to form. Crochet until the sides are about 2 – 3” high. Bind off and weave in loose ends

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KNITTED Artificial Bird Nest
Directions:
On size 5 dpn’s cast on 54 stitches using 2 or 3 strands of yarn so the nests are tightly knit and will stand up in a bowl shape on their own! (divide sts up into 18 sts/needle). Work in knit (stockingette is automatic on dpn’s) stitch for approximately 3 inches. Begin decreasing for the crown as follows:
Next row: *K 7, k 2 tog* repeat to end
Next row: *K 6, k 2 tog* repeat to end
Next row: *K 5, k 2 tog* repeat to end
Nest row: *K 4, k 2 tog* repeat to end
Next row: *K 3, k 2 tog* repeat to end
Next row: *K 2, k 2 tog* repeat to end
Next row: *K 1, k 2 tog* repeat to end
Clip off yarn leaving a tail of about 6 inches.
Using yarn needle, slide yarn needle under all stitches on needles, and draw tight to close up the end. Knot

Make sure the nest can stand up in a bowl shape on it's own!

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LOOM KNITTED NESTS
copyright Beverly A. Qualheim 2008
These must be very tightly knitted.
Using a newborn sized loom, and 2 - 3 strands of worsted weight or rug yarn held together, wrap the loom 3 times around. 
Now lift 1 wrap over 2 (double stitch) around. 
Wrap again so there are 3 wraps. 
Continue lifting 1 wrap over 2 wraps until nest is about 3 inches from first row.

Remove using gathering method like you would for a hat. Weave in ends of yarn to hide.
Push the top down a little to make it nest like.