The Masked Weaver

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When it comes to the things of nature, Sir Charles Darwin would weep while St. Francis lamented my ignorance of the created realm. Besides the cat, dog, and cow, I’m lucky to know the name of any indigenous flora or fauna. But that certainly doesn’t stop me from admiring the diversity of creation. This high-flying yellow spectacle caught my attention last week while I was outside washing the car. The picture you see above is not upside down; it’s the bird who’s upside down. And if my extensive ornithological googling has led me to the correct identification, that little guy is a Masked Weaver.

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He’s masked like Zorro and weaves like it’s his favorite sport. Using strands of grass he meticulously weaves together an upside nest for his lover. He doesn’t just build one but constructs several so as to give his ladylove not only choice in her habitation but also protection by lowering the odds that a predator would stumble upon the one with the eggs.

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What care he must exercise in constructing such precarious nests. They are suspended by the tiniest of twigs on the thinnest of branches. It’s a wonder that the location even supports his building efforts let alone a mother and eggs.

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Is God a masked weaver who builds homes for his beloved? I don’t know, but it’s a thought. Does he let us choose where to live? Do we sometimes choose somewhat precarious locations? Doesn’t he feed even the birds of the air?

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Special thanks to 10,000 Birds for enlightening me on the ways of weavers.

3 responses to “The Masked Weaver”

  1. Granny G Avatar
    Granny G

    Great pictures of the weaver birds. Thanks.

  2. Mom Avatar
    Mom

    Wonderful photography Drew! Your Grandma and Grandpa Diller would love this, they were big bird watchers together and kept a log of dates of different bird sightings.

  3. Jean Bollinger Avatar
    Jean Bollinger

    lovely description, pictures and musings. thankyou.

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