Page 29 - How It Works - Book Of Amazing Answers To Curious Questions, Volume 05-15

Environment

How do weaver birds

build their nests?

Learn how weaver birds knit and tie knots to build amazing structures

ot content with simply gathering a few it is vitally important that the structure is strong similar to the actions of a human weaver. Using
twigs to fashion an open-top nest, and secure. The male bird begins the process by his thin beak as the needle, he weaves a neat
Nweaver birds go to a lot more effort to finding a bare tree branch, and then gathers his lattice-like pattern, alternately threading

create a home for their young. Their enclosed building materials by ripping up strands of grass strands above and below the strands that run
and intricately woven creations not only help to with his beak. Over 1,000 blades of grass are perpendicular to it, to create an incredibly
keep out predators, but are also used to attract needed to make one nest, so a great deal of strong structure. However, once the grass dries
prospective mate. energy is required to harvest them one at a time. out and turns brown, the female will consider
It’s the male weaver birds that do the building, Only the freshest and most supple strands will it too weak and unfit for her young, meaning

and the females judge who they want to mate do, as he needs to be able to fix them to the he has to cut it down and start the process

with based on his construction skills. Therefore, branch using complicated knots and stitches all over again.

How to
weave a nest Types of stitches
Some of the intricate techniques weaver birds use to build a nest
The stages that every male weaver bird
must complete to create a safe haven
Simple loop Interlocking Spiral coil Half hitch
1 The very fi rst step loops The birds may Once the fi rst
Weave a ring
loop the initial
simple loop is
to building a nest
The bird starts by securing
To fashion a rope
strands of grass or strips of leaves involves looping a that serves as strand around a formed, the birds
branch several
use a half hitch
strand around a
the foundation of
to a tree branch. He then loops strong tree the nest, the times to ensure stitch to secure
them around to create a ring that is branch. birds weave the nest is secure. it tightly to
strands through the branch.
big enough for him to pass through.
existing loops.
This ring forms the supporting
structure for the rest of the nest.
Add a roof
2
More strands are weaved onto
the ring to build up the roof and
walls of the nest. He does this by
poking a strand through the ring
structure, pulling it out the other
side and then feeding it back
through again, just like stitching.

Create a doorway
3
A hole is left at the bottom of
the nest to serve as a doorway, and
he constructs a long downward Alternately Overhand knot Slip knot © Thinkstock; dieKleinert / Alamy; Dick Daniels
pointing entrance tube that leads reversed winding The birds can loop a Weaver birds can use
to it. This helps to deter predators To strengthen the foundation strand and feed the complicated slip knots
to weave strands and
end back through to
that would otherwise be able to of the nest, the birds may secure it to branches branches together to
weave the initial strand
swoop down and snatch the eggs between two branches. or other strands. form their nests.
or chicks from above.
How It Works 29