JUN 07, 2016

Sociable weaver birds build huge communal nests

WRITTEN BY: Kathryn DeMuth Sullivan

Often, nature and wildlife give us clues on how we can live in harmony with others. A bird species known as sociable weavers are known to create massive, visually appealing nests in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa.

The nests resemble haystacks and they are comprised of twigs, straw, grass and other natural elements. The insides are covered in cotton, fur or other soft material that the birds can find.

Owls, eagles and of course the builders themselves, weavers inhabit the nests. Some of the nests house up to 100 families of sociable weavers and they can be occupied for a century. Surprisingly they are safe from tree snakes or cobras and the temperature inside remains cool during the day and warm at night, defying the harsh desert climate.

The sociable weaver is about the size of a sparrow, usually weighing approximately an ounce. They are usually brown with a scale-like appearance and have a black patch on their throats.