The Weaver Bird

 The weaver bird built in our house ...

Remember the famous poem 'The Weaver Bird' by Kofi Awoonor that talks about both alienation and alignment. It explores the themes of imposition and the search for belonging in the wake of historical and cultural upheaval. 

                        

               Nest of a Baya Weaver 

We are just through the favourite Puja of the Bengalees, Durga pujo. Following Kojagari Lokkhi (Lakshmi) pujo, we are now preparing  for the upcoming Kali pujo. Not just among  Bengalees, but across India, Maa is worshipped in so many avatars; but in life, the abuse that a woman regularly and increasingly faces now across the nation sometimes make these celebrations look so shallow. How and why the perpetrators are getting bolder by the day are some of the other disturbing thoughts that cloud my vision as I feel good about Shreya Ghosal's reportedly performed protest song against this abuse at her recent concert in Kolkata, India. I feel sad but also hopeful on learning about muted observance at some mandaps in Kolkata to press for justice over the heinous RG Kar incident. 

Goddess Durga is the embodiment of female energy that encapsulates the power to both create and destroy.

As I pay ode to that creative energy, I thought of dedicating today's blog on our feathered friends rather than the humans for more reasons than one. A male bird who single-handedly and painstakingly creates beautiful and thoughtful nests. An enlightening example of male musing.

I may have seen and/or read about them earlier but somehow didn't get captivated by them till I saw one near the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) site within the lush foliage of Aarey colony, Mumbai, India. I am talking about the fascinating nests of the Baya Weaver birds. This was many years ago, 2014 to be precise. BNHS held a one-day workshop on environmental journalism. 

Over a decade later, I still get mesmerized by their nests. Recently, when my good friend and a noted nature photographer Suhasini Ahluwalia Mehta sent me a picture of the nest, I started writing this blog. From May to September is their breeding season. 

"The Baya Weaver Birds are widespread, social, gregarious birds nesting in colonies. They have a stout conical bill and short, square tail. The chatters interspersed with whistles is an easy way to detect the nesting sites of Baya weaver birds", informs freelance botanist Dr. Sweedle Cerejo-Shivkar, when I spoke to her while writing this blog. 

I was particularly hooked as much on learning upon their repeated efforts to create a home for their partners as was floored by the shape and space of their elaborate nest. It is said to be plastered with dung inside that works as a temperature controller. I had also heard about fireflies being used to light up their abodes.

The nest building activity starts in the monsoon when nesting material is abundant. "The grass and palm fronds are pulled apart into thin long fragments. Hundreds of trips are made back and forth from the plant material site to the ongoing nest building site.

The long nest is their signature and makes them popular. There are 2 parts of the nest – globular egg chamber and elongated tube at the lower side. The interiors of the egg chamber are plastered with mud and dung", observes Mumbai-based Cerejo-Shivkar, 40. 

After completing the upper globular part of the nest, the male makes the chatter and flutters their wings. This is an invitation for the female to inspect the nest. If liked, the nest is completed to bring in their babies.  

Usually a male Baya Weaver bird makes more than one nest (two or three at the most) in one breeding season. But a lot depends on the success of finding a mate, adds Cerejo-Shivkar.

Incidentally, the abandoned nests aren’t reused by the Baya Weavers, but yes Indian Silverbills do use them. Silverbills do build their nest of grasses but do not miss an opportunity to use abandoned nests of Baya Weavers. Why, you may wonder.

"Indian Silverbills use the same material as the Bayas. They are known to use the abandoned nest or rob/steal grass fragments from the Baya's nest", observes Cerejo-Shivkar.

Afterthought 

Some people have the habit of collecting nature's gifts like shells, corals, abandoned nests etc. as home decor. Is it advisable?

Not only abandoned nest, but anything built in nature with natural materials should be left untouched, since it will be reused or decomposed to become one with nature again, feels some nature enthusiasts. Some others would perhaps still pick up a shell or a pebble. When children gets excited over discovering a coral or an oyster shell and insists to take it as a keepsake, I feel it could nurture a bond with nature. But then...

Ideally, perhaps, it is better to bring only photographs back from nature that will treasure our memories for good. Nothing else. And ofcourse, do observe nature and teach your little ones too. There is so much to learn. 

      

   Nesting of Baya Weavers on Toddy Palms

     

#GoddessDurga#BNHS#BayaWeaver#IndianSilverbill#KofiAwoonor#SudeshnaChatterjee