Dream Weavers

Humongous Haute Couture?

 Ginormous Donkey Head?

 

Gargantuas Guinea Pigs?

Nooooo....Bird's Nests!!!

Sociable Weaver Bird   nests to be factual. These massive bird abodes can be seen through out the Kalahari Desert in the south of Africa and each can be home to one hundred birds of varying species at one time including the South African Pygmy Falcon.

View from below:

 Via the San Diego Zoo:

         The sociable weaver is a very common little brown bird in the Kalahari region of southern Africa. However, this sparrow-sized critter may quite possibly be one of the most interesting birds in the world! Sociable weavers are unlike most other birds due to their lifestyle and nest building: they weave one nest for their entire colony as well as for future residents. This is no ordinary nest—it is massive, like a giant apartment block occupied by up to 100 sociable weaver families all year long. Some sociable weaver nests have remained occupied for over 100 years! 

        The sociable weaver’s nest sees plenty of guests—a regular Kalahari Desert inn! The South African pygmy falcon Polihierax semitorquatus relies completely on the sociable weavers’ nest for its own home, often nesting side by side with the sociable weavers. The pied barbet, familiar chat, red-headed finch, ashy tit, and rosy-faced lovebird often find comfort in the cozy nesting chambers, too. Vultures, owls, and eagles will roost on the nests’ broad roof. 

       Why are weavers willing to share the huge nest they worked so hard to make? More residents mean more eyes keeping a watch for danger. And the weavers often learn from the other birds where new sources of food can be found.

Above nest photos via thisiscolossal.com 

Click link for more photos

Photographer Dillon Marsh also has a  series of weaver bird nest photographs titled Assimilation  (via neatorama)