L. C. Webber—Nesting Notes on the “ Baya Weaver 165


NESTING NOTES ON THE <c BAYA WEAVER ”

IN AN AUSTRALIAN AVIARY


(Ploceus philippinus)


By Leonard C. Webber


Having read the article on Weavers by Mr. Shore-Baily in

Aviculture, vol. i, I would like to add a few remarks on the Baya

Weaver, the champion nest builder of this family.


In October, 1936, I purchased three of these birds, out of colour,

so was not sure if there was a true pair among them. However, within

a week of being installed in the aviary with other Weavers and Whydahs

one was constantly chasing another whenever it chanced to alight near

what later proved to be a hen.


The unlucky cock later gave up the fight for the hen, and the pair

settled down to nesting operations.


The cock has what I imagine to be a courting display, which consists

of a flicking of the wings and tail, with neck stretched, and wings and

tail outspread, the bird adopting a crouched attitude. This happened

every time he alighted near the hen. If the display was not to fascinate

the hen, it must have been to frighten the other cock, it is certainly

a formidable stance, not unlike the actions of the Australian Crimson

Finch.


Nest building commenced in November, the groundwork of the

nest, or rather the overhead work on the wire netting, covered an area

of approximately 2 square feet, the nest proper being hung from as

near the centre as possible of this mass of overhead weaving, and worked

round a single hanging cross perch. A cross piece of this perch was

used for what Mr. Shore-Baily mentions as a strong twist of grass on

which the cock roosts at night.


The strange peculiarity also mentioned re a lump of mud stuck

on each side of the nest was also present, but was pure sand, not mud.

The aviary floor is sand, nothing else being available. (I live close to

one of Sydney’s famous beaches.) To me this seems more remarkable,

as sand crumbles and falls away when dry. The saliva if used must

have good sticking qualities.



