The little weaver

 

Curious lanterns have been hanging on a few trees in this waste land for more than a year. Every time I go past, I would stop in silence for a while and watch for signs of activity, but would always fail to detect any. Most of these nests are facing the east, in accordance to known literature. I have assumed the residents had long abandoned the site due to human disturbance..... until one morning .....

... a flurry of activities  alerted me to the arrival of new nestling season. The Baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus) is back building a new township .....

The one in the centre with an inverted long funnel entrance, is almost completed while the one on the left is still at initial stage. The long funnel is supposed to deter predators, notably snakes, from raiding the nest. The birds flutter in exuberance carrying strands of grass and inspecting their work of art and some even seemed to tilt their heads, glancing sideways to spy on their neighbours. How I wish I have a bazooka lens that can zoom in on the action but until then, I will have to make do with these images.