Native to South and Southeast Asia, the bird species Ploceus philippinus, better known as the baya weaver, is so named for its unique nests, which often hang from palm trees above bodies of water. To create them, males of the species, identifiable by their bright yellow feathers, stitch together grass, leaves and twigs. Females then take on inspection duties, poking at the structure to find vulnerabilities, and only pairing with the male if his work is up to snuff. This short video condenses roughly 18 days of meticulous work into three-and-a-half minutes as it captures one of the world’s most skilled and clever builders weaving a structure he hopes might impress a mate.
For one of nature’s great builders, finding a mate means weaving the perfect nest
19 June 2024
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