Baya Weavers: A series

[bedantabd]

The Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) is a weaverbird found across South and Southeast Asia. The breeding season of the Baya Weavers is during the monsoons. The breeding condition is initiated by environmental characters such as day length and comes to an end after summer although this termination is not influenced by short day length as in temperate birds. They nest in colonies typically of up to 20-30, close to the source of food, nesting material and water. Baya Weavers are best known for the elaborately woven nests constructed by the males. These pendulous nests are retort-shaped, with a central nesting chamber and a long vertical tube that leads to a side entrance to the chamber. The nests are woven with long strips of paddy leaves, rough grasses and long strips torn from palm fronds. Each strip can be between 20 and 60 cm in length. A male bird is known to make up to 500 trips to complete a nest. The birds use their strong beaks to strip and collect the strands, and to weave and knot them while building their nests. The nests are often built hanging over water from palm trees and often suspended from thorny Acacias – Wikipedia.

It was a pleasant surprise to find a colony of these birds inside an abandoned well the other morning. Had an amazing time watching them building the nests. Wanted to share a few images, all kinds of C&C most welcome. All images were made with the EF 70-300mm lens (handheld), PP done in ACR/CS5.

Males busy building nests:


Tv mode @ f/5.6, 1/320 sec, ISO-200; spot metering


Tv mode @ f/5.6, 1/320 sec, ISO-320; spot metering

Resting in between:


Tv mode @ f/6.3, 1/320 sec, ISO-1000; spot metering

Females enjoying the morning sun:


Tv mode @ f/6.3, 1/320 sec, ISO-125; spot metering


Av mode @ f/6.3, 1/800 sec, ISO-100; spot metering

[dje]

Hi Bedanta

What beautiful birds (especially the male !). You've captured them very well, nice sharp images with colour and exposure spot on. Well done

Dave

[terrib]

These are all gorgeous images. thanks for sharing them with us!

[Dave Humphries]

Very nice Bedanta,

Catch-lights in their eyes too in most shots, great work.

[kdoc856]

Bird shots are not generally "my thing", but these are really special, and superb photography.

[Stagecoach]

Bedanta,

Great captures. Lighting, colour, sharpness and composition make this a superb series.

Thank you for sharing.

[davidedric]

Hi Bedanta,

Superb images, as has been said.

I'd like to add an extra thanks for the narrative and background. For me, it makes the pictures into a story.

Regards,

Dave

[John 2]

What a great set of images Bedanta. Beautiful work.

[bedantabd]

Thanks everyone. These are some of the best compliments I have ever received for my work, very inspiring indeed!!!

I was able to locate the place from where these birds are collecting the long grass blades for building the nests. A few photographs from this place while collecting the nesting materials and on the way back to the construction site should complete the entire story. Will comeback if I'm able to get some decent shots..........stay tuned.

[jprzybyla]

Beautiful images, well done Bedanta.

[Brownbear]

Amazingly beautiful images of a gorgeous bird.

[bedantabd]

Thanks Joe and Christina.