Field Notes · Catnum 165779 · score 5 — moderate uncertainty
Nest on sleeper of railroad trestle bridge across Pennypack Creek at Coaster's, 30 feet from ground and within 18 inches of track. Composedly made of grass stems and barks, weed stalks and mud, and lined thickly with grass barks; large and deeply cupped. This bridge was subsequently replaced by a steel span. My first clutch of Robin.
Metadata · Catnum 165779
Date17 Apr 1902
LocalityHolmesburg, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Coordinates40.038134, -75.019711 ↗ map
CollectorMiller, Richard F.
Eggs in Set5
Specimen TypeE
Incubationfresh
Identificationbird on nest (transcribed as “Female on nest.”)
Nest Height9.14 m (30 feet)
Nest Supportsleeper of railroad trestle bridge
Nest Materialsgrass stems, barks, weed stalks, mud
Nest Lininggrass barks
Near Waterabove water
Nest Settingrailroad trestle bridge across Pennypack Creek
Nest NotesNest within 18 inches of track. Large and deeply cupped. Bridge was subsequently replaced by steel span. Collector's first clutch of Robin.
Further Details761 | 5-Jan
✦ Anecdote
This nest was remarkably situated within 18 inches of an active railroad track on a trestle bridge 30 feet above water, making it an extraordinarily dangerous and exposed nesting location for a robin.