Southern Masked Weaver’s have mastered the art of weaving to such perfection that females trust the male’s architectural skills and engineering abilities to provide them with a safe home in which to raise their chicks.
Nests are usually built above water for protection from land based predators and also it is in the proximity of water that the best building materials are found, mainly reeds.
On average each male will build up to 4 nests before the female will consider moving in. The females are not very forgiving on the males when choosing their nests and will often rip the nest apart if it’s not up to standard, or simply because she doesn’t like the neighbours.
But having got her to accept his nest then gives him the right to mate with her.
So good luck guys!
Kim, is it true? Are you really back? If you are let me be the first to say welcome back! We missed you! the Reply line has been pretty slow the last week. No disrespect intended to “Tracker” he/she did respond to our questions very nicely, but you were missed.
So tell us about the trip. Was it work or play? Did you have any fun? But most importantly did you miss us as we missed you?
Glad to have you back
Paige
Kim, this is such a wonderful video clip of these Weavers! Just keep the great bird shots coming!