Master Weaver

[thumper]

I was looking at the 'Master Carpenter' thread and thought of these photos I took of a weaver bird in S. Africa. I never saw him check a 'pattern' or the blue-prints once! It's amazing what instinct can do...

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/Canmoron/Africa/608_zps746ce5e5.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/Canmoron/Africa/610_zps078b5844.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/Canmoron/Africa/614_zps7ac4177f.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/Canmoron/Africa/633_zpsb4057ccf.jpg

[HunterDave]

You didn't watch the whole build did you? How long from the first picture to the last?

[Reeves1]

Cool pictures !

Blows me away on how intricate a bird will build for a mate !



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/Birds/bowerbird-5-vogal.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/Birds/bowerbird-6.jpg


and closer to home....

http://www.google.ca/search?q=oriole+nest+building&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=9czwUPn3C6S2iwLau4GgAw&ved=0CDIQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=603

[alacringa]

Weavers are amazing, eh? I saw Golden Weavers in Thailand...the nests were very cool.

Bowerbirds are pretty interesting, too, Reeves, but I've never been anywhere within their range.

[thumper]

The Southern Masked Weaver Finch took the full day to make the nest. I checked in on him periodically.
This is a Social Weaver Finch, which makes communal nests. The down-ward pointing nest entrances are lined with delicately placed grass stems - designed to slough-off, if a snake or other predator tries to enter. The snake ends up falling onto the ground underneath the tree, and needs to start all over again.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/Canmoron/403_zps2b7b3aaa.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/Canmoron/406_zps400c0685.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/Canmoron/408_zps5ab89f28.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/Canmoron/420_zpsd8c72501.jpg

[thumper]

Love the Orioles, Reeves, there's a few colonies of Bullocks Orioles around Creston that I want to get some photos of. Cool nests.

[Ken07AOVette]

Amazing little creatures!