Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) by Nikhil Devasar
Baya Weaver – The Model Church ~ by a j mithra
The Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) is a weaverbird found across South and Southeast Asia. These are sparrow-sized (15 cm) and in their non-breeding plumage, both males and females resemble female house sparrows. They have a stout conical bill and a short square tail.
Non-breeding males and females look alike, dark brown streaked fulvous buff above, plain (unstreaked) whitish fulvous below, eyebrow long and buff coloured, bill is horn coloured and no mask. Breeding males have a bright yellow crown, dark brown mask, blackish brown bill, upper parts are dark brown streaked with yellow, with a yellow breast and cream buff below.
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) by MAMuin
Baya Weavers are social and gregarious birds. They forage in flocks for seeds, both on the plants and on the ground. Flocks fly in close formations, often performing complicated maneuvers. Their calls are a continuous chit-chit-… sometimes ending in a wheezy cheee-eee-ee that is produced by males in a chorus. A lower intensity call is produced in the non-breeding season.
Feeding together and flying together and singing together?
The church needs to take a leaf out from the lifestyle of these birds..
Is it not important, to be together as a one? We say that Christ is the head of the church. But how can Christ be the head of disintegrated choirs in disintegrated churches and indifferent individuals who make disoriented families?
These birds feed together…
- How many Christian families spend time together in reading and meditating the Bible?
- How many Christian families live together?
These birds even fly together performing complicated maneuvers…
- How are our maneuvers as a team?
- We are supposed to be the army of Jesus, but sadly each one facing different directions…
These birds sing together in chorus..
- How do our family and church worship the Lord?
- Do we sing in unity as one?
Its time for us to check ourselves and try learn to live like these birds…
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. (Psalm 133:1-3 KJV)
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) by Nikhil Devasar
Flocks of these birds are found in grasslands, cultivated areas, scrub and secondary growth and they are best known for their hanging retort shaped nests woven from leaves. These nest colonies are usually found on thorny trees or palm fronds and the nests are often built near water or hanging over water where predators cannot reach easily.
They are widespread and common within their range but are prone to local, seasonal movements mainly in response to rain and food availability.
Christ is mindful of us even unto death..
He did think of you and me even as He wore the crown of thorns…
These birds remind me of Psalm 23:2
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
These birds choose to live in the grasslands and build their nests with green leaves over fresh water bodies…
The Lord is our Shepherd and the Living Water..
No doubt about it…
But, the question is, do we let Him makes us lie down in green pastures and lead us beside still waters?
If the answer is yes, then how come our soul is weak, weary and thirsty?
Lets seek His presence, for He is the God of abundance…
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) 3 Male building by Nikhil Devasar
The nest of the Baya Weaver bird is an engineering marvel…
These dull looking birds have a most interesting breeding season…
The breeding season of the Baya Weavers is during the monsoon..
The breeding condition is initiated by environmental characters such as day length and comes to an end after summer although this termination is not influenced by short day length as in temperate birds…
They nest in colonies typically of up to 20-30, close to the source of food, nesting material and water. Baya Weavers are best known for the elaborately woven nests constructed by the males. These pendulous nests are retort shaped, with a central nesting chamber and a long vertical tube that leads to a side entrance to the chamber. The nests are woven with long strips of paddy leaves, rough grasses and long strips torn from palm fronds. Each strip can be between 20–60cm in length. A male bird is known to make up to 500 trips to complete a nest.
Our Lord Jesus Christ made just one trip to the earth and is now building a mansion for us…
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)
The birds use their strong beaks to strip and collect the strands, and to weave and knot them while building their nests. The nests are often built hanging over water from palm trees and often suspended from thorny Acacias and in some cases from telephone wires. Although thorny trees are preferred, they may sometimes use avenue trees in urban areas. Nests are often located on the eastern side of the tree where they are believed to provide shelter from the Southwest Monsoon, however late breeders are more likely to build their nests in other orientations relative to the trunk of the nest tree..
- How do these birds know where and when to build their nests?
- How do these birds know the direction where the nest has to be placed?
Is it cos they look up to God the directions in life?
- A Meteorological expert knows about the weather…
- A Botanist knows about the plants and trees…
- A Hydrologist knows about water…
But how do these birds know about the season, the tree and the water?
Want to know everything under the sky? Just follow the following verses…
Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things. (Proverbs 28:5)
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. (Psalm 34:10)
This male Baya Weaver is working on his nest. This is by Wondersf, which is one of the videographers who has given us permission to use his videos. Khong Tuck Khoon lives in Malaysia.
The males take about 18 days to construct the complete nest with the intermediate “helmet stage” taking about 8 days. The nests are partially built before the males begin to display to passing females by flapping their wings and calling while hanging from their nests.
When I read the above passage I was reminded of the famous picture of the cross where I read the following quote..
I asked Jesus how much He loved me
He answered “this much”
Then He stretched out His arms and died for me
The females inspect the nest and signal their acceptance of a male. Once a male and a female are paired, the male goes on to complete the nest by adding the entrance tunnel. Males are almost solely in charge of nest building, though their female partners may join in giving the finishing touches, particularly on the interiors. So much so, that even a snake would never be able to enter its nest. Females may modify the interiors or add blobs of mud.
Studies have shown that nest location is more important than nest structure for the female, when it selects the nest and mate…
When we build our lives above the Living Water, the serpent would never be able to enter our homes…
Instead we would walk over them..
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven. (Luke 10:19,20)
Have a blessed day!
Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra
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Lee’s Addition:
The Baya Weaver is in the Ploceidae – Weavers, Widowbirds Family of the Passeriformes (Songbirds) Order.
Here’s an amazing video to watch. It’s about 3 minutes long, but shows the weaving going on by the bird. By masanthosh
See also:
Birds the Engineers… by ajmithra
Master Builder’s Master Builders by ajmithra
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Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 