Amazing Baya Weaver

Amazing Baya Weaver

Panskura, 17 July: It was an amazing experience that I saw many Indian weaver birds today here.  The baya weaver is a weaverbird found across the Indian Subcontinent. The scientific name is Ploceus philippinus.

Description

These are sparrow-sized (15 cm). They have a stout conical bill and a short square tail. Non-breeding males and females look alike. Breeding males and females are unlike.

---Behaviour---

Baya weavers are social birds. They eat seeds, both on the plants and on the ground. They also feed on insects. Their seasonal movements are restricted by food availability. They are occasionally indulge in dust bathing.

---Nest and Breeding---

The breeding season is during the monsoons. Baya weavers are best known for the elaborately woven nests. The nests are woven by males with long strips of paddy leaves, rough grasses and long strips. A male bird is known to collect to 500 trips to complete a nest. The nests are often built hanging from palm trees. The males take about 18 days to construct a nest. The nests are partially built before the males begin to display to passing females. The females inspect the nest and signal their acceptance. Once a male and a female are paired, the male goes on to complete the nest. Though their female partners may join in giving the finishing touches, particularly on the interiors. Both males and females are polygamous. The female lays about 2 to 4 white eggs and incubates for about 14 to 17 days. The chicks leave the nest after about 17 days. After mating with a female the male typically court other females at other partially constructed nests.

---Ineresting Culture---

The baya sticks fireflies with mud to the nest walls to light up the interior of the nest at night. Baya has been seen to add blobs of mud to the nest chamber. The clay also helps to stabilise the nest in strong winds.

Written by- Rupesh Samanta

Source- Wikipedia and Field Survey// Picture- Author