Big Bird's nest

Big Bird's nest, now resting in a tree beginning in season 46

Big Bird's nest is the home of Big Bird on Sesame Street. Located to the right of 123 Sesame Street at 123½, with Oscar's trash can between the two, Big Bird's nest is set off by a collection of doors and paneling. Brick walls from surrounding buildings set off the area, giving Big Bird complete privacy, though no roof. One of the windows of Susan and Gordon's apartment looks into the nest, and the former has been a sort-of surrogate mother to him over the years. His bed is a large-scale version of a real bird's nest, made of sticks and twigs.

The furnishings include crates, which serve as table space or benches for visitors, a bookshelf (containing such titles as March of Democracy, Preface to Philosophy, Principles of Chemistry, and Shattered Lamp), and a variety of diverse items. According to the book Sesame Street Unpaved, Big Bird's nest contains: a bubble gum dispenser, a clock with no hands, a feather duster, a football helmet, a golf bag with one club, a hurricane lamp, a megaphone, a Roman bust (which has occasionally worn his red neck tie), a tricycle wheel, a watering can, an old record player, an umbrella, a mailbox, and a pair of snowshoes. Prominent decorations include an alphabet chart and Mr. Hooper's Picture. Among other objects not listed in the book, he has a small wooden alphabet sign, a jack-and-balls game, and a picture of his cousin Abelardo. The opening of a 1974 episode reveals that he also has a pull-string lamp.

When the set was given a complete makeover in 2002 following the hurricane in Season 32, Big Bird acquired some actual, colorful child-like furniture like a couple of multi-colored nightstands with drawers, a colorful bookshelf, and even a small wooden step-ladder to get into Big Bird's nest. Most of the original belongings of Big Bird's mentioned above have been removed with the exception of his snowshoes, and his mailbox (which is now repainted to no longer show his name on the side).

For Season 46, Big Bird's nest area saw another makeover; the construction doors have been removed, and the nest itself is wedged in between the branches or a large tree growing out of the cobblestone-covered ground. Small shelves and other of Big Bird's personal items are nailed to the protruding branches.

The nest used in Elmo in Grouchland was built by Geoffrey Cormier of the movie's art department. The item was put on eBay, but didn't sell, so in 2005, it was placed for sale on his website. That nest had thicker twisted branches than the contemporary television version.

view from around the corner

the nest used in Elmo in Grouchland.

The inside view of Big Bird's nest

An older set dressing, from 1970

The construction doors bordering Big Bird's nest, 1970-1992.

Doors 1993-2001

Doors 2002-2005

Doors 2006-2015

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Big Bird reading in his nest in 1975

Big Bird sleeping in his nest

Big Bird outside his nest during reconstruction of it after the hurricane.

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Angle of the nest area, with Gordon and Susan's kitchen window, as of the 1980s.

Long shot of the nest area, circa 1986.

An arial shot of the nest area, in episode 2746 (1990)

An illustration of the original nest area, as merged into a tall building during the 1972-1974 ending credits

The nest, as of 2009.

Trivia

• "Big Bird's Nest" appears as a property on the Monopoly: Sesame Street Edition game board, in place of Pennsylvania Avenue.

See also

• Pino's nest
• Big Bird's Nest (book)
• Big Bird's New Nest (book)