Now that the leaves are falling, I noticed this thing hanging from one of the trees across the pond. Anyone know what it is? At first I thought it might be a bird nest, but then a really big wasp nest came to mind. Birds...I'll leave it alone. Wasps...I get to do a little target practice since I'm not going near the thing to get rid of it. I'm hoping if it has to go it will fall into the pond and sink.

Got any ideas?

It's quite large.

And it's clearly visible from across the pond. I can't decide whether I think it's interestingly cool or creepy!

The two things that come to mind are a bee hive (but I think it is to large for that) or a birds nest. Interesting tho.

It's a hornets nest. Be very careful....once the hornets are gone, the nest is very interesting....you see them being used in all kind of country crafts.

I don't know how you can tell when the hornets are gone...maybe shoot it down and see if any thing buzzes out of it.


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OH NO! Don't shoot it! The hornets will leave once the weather is cold...think frost/freeze...if they haven't left already. And they won't reuse the nest again.
They are fragile and if you shot it down it would fall all to pieces.
Cut the branches on both sides of it, lower it into a black plastic garbage bag & keep it where it won't get bumped over the winter.
Then in the spring...you will be sure there are no living hornets...SELL IT! You can usually get decent money for them....like $30 to $100 depending on your market. $50 is about average around here. We have 2 right now...will be selling in the spring.

I forgot to add...don't spray it with ANYTHING...that will make it disappear...it just sort of evaporates if sprayed...with bug/hornet spray or laquer or hair spray or anything else. DH tried it!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ga.karen,

Some sporting goods stores will buy them for decor too & gun shops.

Hornet or wasp nest definitely...check google for bald faced hornets nests.

some folks keep an old empty hornet's nest and use it if there's a batch of hornets looking to build a nest somewhere not so good, like on your porch , too close for comfort.... if you hang an old nest like yours up in the porch overhang, it proclaims your 'porch' as taken territory and the new hornets will not build nearby......

that one looks too high to get down without it busting up.... they are very interesting if you get to take a close look at the way they set it up inside, tho....

Community nature centers might like it for display. I had one of those once & well hidden
in my shrubbery border. Yep~~hornets!

I Googled the bald faced hornets and remember seeing a few and thought at the time 'what the heck are those???' They were interesting since I'd never seen a black and white hornet before. It looks like they are gone now. I haven't seen any activity at the nest and I've been out there several times trying to figure out what it was. It's too high to reach to get it down and is hanging over the water. I guess if the hornets are gone and nothing will inhabit it in the future, I'll just leave it alone as an interesting accent to the property.

There are a couple of birds that live around the pond that I can't get a good enough look at to tell what they are so I thought it might be their nest. They're kind of blue with rings around their necks. Bigger than a Bluejay, maybe the size of a small duck but not water dwellers. They make the strangest noise and fly around like they've lost their minds sometimes. I Googled blue birds for a while and eventually found something that looks like them. They appear to be Belted Kingfishers. They're really quite pretty. But now I know the hanging thing is not their next.

The things ya learn in the country!

Thanks ya'll for providing the solution to this little mystery.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: *~Bella~*,

EEK! It reminds of the nest of Tracker Jackers in the movie Hunger Games. LOL

That could be either a hornets nest or it could be a wasps nest, they look very similar. Either one that nest most likely is now empty and will not be used again.

OMG Wanda ~~ just like the Hunger Games! LOL

Bella, from your description of the look and sound of your bird, I think you are right on Belted Kingfisher. They like to hang around ponds and hunt for small fish.

I agree, Bald Face Hornet nest. Glad it is no longer active. Be on the lookout for hornets to build a new one somewhere next year, since they are obviously in the area.

Bella, IMHO it looks rather pretty hanging right where it is No need to bother it
Hornets or wasps, either can be pretty fierce. Wouldn't want to tangle with them.