Indian Weaver Birds building Hanging Love Nests
Indian Weaver Birds found building hanging love nests near Bengaluru, how exciting is that!
We were surprised when hanging nests of weaver birds were found near Bengaluru. We didn’t expect weaver bird habitat so close to Bangalore. On our road trip to Kokkarebellur Bird Sanctuary from Bangalore we chanced on this tree having five to six weaver bird nests. Of course we had to stop. The pictures of the Baya weaver birds I clicked here helped them to complete an essay on weaver birds.
Weaver Birds: Architect of Love Nests
Weaver birds are the architects of avian kingdom. Male weaver birds with strong conical beak first cut blades of fresh grass fetched from nearby fields during their innumerable trips. Then they elaborately weave the nests.
No two weaver bird nests have the same shape.
Weaver Birds hanging nests
Weaver bird with nest material
All this art and skill from their genetic memory with no formal training. I struggle with basic kitting steps and here these birds are expert architect with just their beaks. Never underestimate bird brain and what they are capable of!
Each of the different species of weaver bird has different style of weaving the nests. Bird experts can easily identify the species from the way the nest is built.
Weaver Bird Nest Shape
Why Male Weaver Bird builds Nests?
We were amazed to watch the birds with grass blades as nest material in their beaks go about their job of weaving their nests. Bright yellow marking indicates they are the males of the species. The nests reminded us of Tailorbirds who build nests with leaves and spider webs!
All this effort to woo the female birds! During the mating season these males birds construct the nests to attract the female birds. They flutter and give mating calls to attract attention while building the nests.
Once the female approves she helps to complete the nest. She lines up the inside of the nest with soft grass. At a time they lay around 2 to 4 eggs and it takes 2 weeks to hatch.
Hanging Nests of Weaver Bird
A completed nest resembles an upturned long necked pot or jug. Entrance is made in such a way that while the birds find their entry very easily it is extremely difficult for predators like snake to maneuver around to get to the entrance.
My daughters were curious – won’t the weaverbird eggs fall down? Probably they have compartments inside – I replied. One has to cut open an abandoned nest to understand their nest building skills.
We saw a nest with two separate entrances; probably one was for the male and the other for the female and the babies.
Baya Weaver bird building nest
Types of Weaver Birds
There are 57 species of Weaver Bird, they belong to the family Ploceidae. The Weaver Bird found in India and parts of south-east Asia is called the Baya Weaver.
About Weaver Bird Activities
The birds feed on insects and grains. Some species of the weaver bird fly in huge flocks and it seems they can have destructive power equal to that of locusts.
We spent an hour there, waiting patiently to get shots of the birds perched on the nests. The birds were constantly chattering totally unmindful of our presence.
Weaver Bird activities
Myth regarding Indian Weaver Birds
One interesting myth associated with these birds is that these birds bring fireflies to the nests to light the nests up. If bird watching was possible at night one can see if this is true.
Once the breeding is over, it seems like the nests are taken over by other birds.
Conclusion
The weaver birds found in the nests were enjoying the last days of summer after raising their young ones.
Next season we plan to be on time because kids want to see the weaver bird nest construction process and I have to get pictures of the work of weaver bird beak while they weave the straws and dry creepers to build their nests.
Pin this for later…
(This post was first published on Jul 26, 2008.)
Our daughter is an ornithologist and is obsessed with birds. I am sure she would be fascinated by the weaver birds. And the fascinating structures they create. She would hang around until after dark to verify whether they really bring fireflies back to the nest!
Lovely Pics and a very Informative post on Indian Weaver Birds, Great. Have a Nice Day. . . 🙂
Hi Indrani,
I live south in Hyderabad. these nests are made by birds called weaver birds. the birds have a colourful plumage with more of yellow init. I saw many of these nests on the outskirts of hyderabad. it was interesting to read that the nest is approved by the female bird.
Good words.
Was tickled reading..
“..Once the female approves,..”
“..We saw a nest with two separate entrances; probably one was for the male and the other for the female and the babies.”
As usual, can see that the blog has shot to fame, with the excellent pictures. Congrats.
Oh Indrani,this was so fascinating to read about. Isn’t nature amazing? Beautiful shots too!
well done indrani. all these is so interesting to me. hoping for more posts like this
Hello! Indrani thanks for the visit anyway since you don’t have message box I will answer your question yes gabi leaves are edible and the roots are also good source of carbohydrates like sweet potato but not sweet. I know these plants grow too in your country. I saw it in your market in travel and living program in cable network. and in business review magazine that I read when your country is featured once. just delete this my friend…
Terrific pics, as usual. Do the birds pose for you, Indrani? 🙂
Very, very nice post
great collection of snaps…maybe you should check out some salim ali writings…
Interesting post. i never know about these bird. They are beautiful.
I have seen several near my home in surathkal, As a child, I used to collect one or two to hang them in front of my house. I wish i knew then, that i was actually stealing someones home.
Hi Indrani!
Sorry for the absence these last weeks, but unfortunately it wasn’t due to some summer holidays… ;))
Thanks for your comments on Blogtrotter, now at the MoMA for Art and New York lovers! Hope you enjoy and wish you a great week! I’ll try to get back here to enjoy your pictures with some more time during the week!
WOW I loved this post on the weaver birds….great pictures and I like the part where they bring in fireflies at nite!!!
Such clever birds! And a lovely firefly legend.
All great shots and very interesting reading.
Brilliant birds. The nests are impressive.
Just beautiful nests! I learned a lot about them by reading your notes. Thanks!
Wonderful CC post! What fascinating birds, and their nests are so intricate. The nests must be very strong, too, the way they hang from the branches. Nice that your patience was rewarded. Thanks for stopping by earlier.
That is a great series!
Very interesting post! Thanks for it and too, for stopping by Spatter.
Aren’t they amazing. Great series.
Fascinating. I’ve sure never seen nests like that.
Glad you stopped to spend some time on them…
Nice work, Indrani – especially the last shot. When I was growing up in India I don’t think I ever saw a weaver bird’s nest.
Beautiful shots thats a great wonder in animal kingdom because every species has its own way of raising and protecting their offspring…Happy weekend Indrani…
some awesome pictures there ..would be fun to shoot while the nests are being built
Thanks for your email response and the link to your most interesting Camera Critters post. I’ve never seen or heard of these unusual birds and enjoyed learning about them here.
Hugs and blessings,
Thanks for sharing and teaching us about the birds.
Such an informative post, and wonderful images of such a beautiful bird.
fascinating for sure
This is a truly fantastic post! What awesome birds! I really, really enjoyed these photos and learning more about the birds. Thanks!
IS: I do love these shots of a great bird. they are very acrobatic and that upsidedown shot is special.
these birds are amazing… you managed some wonderful photos, and hope you get to see them weaving their nests next time 🙂
all great photos
Mine in here Thanks
lovely series of your bird shots
Hope you can Visit me also Thanks
These are cool! i’ve seen similar types of nests at one of the san diego zoos, maybe the wild animal park.
Very interesting little birds. Nice images to go along with the information. It would be interesting to know if they really do bring the lightning bugs to their nests at night.
What interesting birds, ones that we don’t get in my part of the world.
Stop by and visit The Gardener Side to see my bluejay photos for Camera Critters this week.
What an awesome capture! This is so cool. The birds are beautiful.
Love the myth of them bringing fireflies to the nest.
Well done!!
These pictures are so great! I am really impressed. Fascinating birds!
So nice! I learned much and enjoyed much. Thank you for your weaver birds.