Strange object - Ask Extension
Hi, I recently found this small, soft/spongy/squishy orange oval shaped object on my deck. It was near my bird feeders and flowers. Any idea what it m...
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Strange object #871914
Asked June 06, 2024, 2:39 PM EDT
Hi, I recently found this small, soft/spongy/squishy orange oval shaped object on my deck. It was near my bird feeders and flowers. Any idea what it might be?
Wright County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi Dawn,
If it's more like the size of a pin head it's probably an insect egg, if it's large like a chicken egg , I have no idea. Is it attached/growing from your deck ? Fungi ? Is it resin coming out of the wood ?
I'm sorry, I am stumped.
Sally Granath
St. Louis County MG
Hi Sally, thanks for getting back to me. It is the size of a large grape. It was not attached to anything when I found it. Unfortunately, it has now shriveled and hardened.
I’ve also been working with staff from the DNR. They believe it could be a shell-less bird egg. They have reached out to one of their experts on birds, I’m waiting to hear back.
Thanks again; I’ll keep you posted on if I hear more.
Dawn.
Dawn,
That is fascinating. I thought it looked like a birds egg. I was just at a three year olds Dinosaur themed birthday and I couldn't help thing ....dinosaur.
Now the question is, what causes that ?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-laying-eggs-without-a-shell.1309034/
I guess this occasionally happens. Isn't life interesting ?
Wow, thanks for the video. Yes; this does seem quite similar to what I found. Mine seemed to have a thinner layer and very squishy but looks very much the same.
I also had a quick flash of a dinosaur egg or some new species - hee hee.
My son actually suggested a premature egg right when he saw it. That’s why I left it outside in case something came back for it.
Nature is fascinating, thanks for taking the time to discuss this, it’s been a very interesting experience for me.
Take care,
Dawn
