Baya Weaver

Description:

The Baya Weaver's nest is an architectural feat. It hangs from a palm frond or branch of a tree and looks like an upside down flask. The general features are a central nesting area with a long tube that leads to a side entrance. This tube makes it difficult even for snakes to enter the nest. The nests last well through the 3-month breeding season, sometimes even up to a year. After the breeding season, other small birds may roost in the abandoned nests. The nests are made entirely out of strips of grass which the birds collect by cutting a notch in a tall grass, then stripping off a 30-60cm length. The birds then use their strong beaks to weave and knot the strips of grass. A newly-made nest is green with fresh grass and turns brown as the grass dries. A bird may make up to 500 trips to complete a nest. According to some reports, it says that the male’s nest that was examined comprised 3,437 strips of grass 4-50 cm long.

Habitat:

Baya Weavers nest in colonies of up to 20-30, usually in trees near freshwater and open ground.

Notes:

The Baya Weaver is a weaverbird. Baya Weavers are sparrow sized (15 cm) and in their non-breeding plumage, both males and females resemble female house sparrows. Breeding males have a bright yellow crown, dark brown mask, blackish brown bill, upper parts are dark brown streaked with yellow, with a yellow breast and cream buff below. During the breeding season the males begin building nests. The nests are partially built (the half built male nests of Baya weavers look like helmets with chin-straps and are called cock-swings) when the males display to passing females by flapping their wings and calling while hanging to their nests. The call of the Baya males which is normally a sparrow-like chit-chit is followed by a long-drawn chee-ee in the breeding season. The females inspect and choose a nest before signalling their approval to a male. Once a male and a female are paired, the male goes on to complete the nest including the entrance tunnel, males are solely incharge of building the nests, though their female partners may join in giving the finishing touches. Studies have shown that nest location is more important than nest structure for the female decision making.