Weavers, like this Red Bishop from Africa, are industrious and highly social birds. These photos were taken at The San Diego Safari Park aviaries, close to The Holler. There are now 400 or so of these beauties flying wild in Holler skies.
I bet they escaped from the park. Smart birdies.
Weavers belong to a family of birds named Ploceidae that weave incredibly intricate nests that hang from trees in groups or colonies. Holler orioles are weavers.
Buffalo Weavers, also from Africa, are charmingly gregarious, happy birds, that like to perch next to you to for a little chat!
Here they are discussing a leaf. What to do with it? Should they pick it up? They seem to think not. It is, obviously, an object worthy of much interest and discussion, but in the end, a useless thing to them.
They may have no use for leaves, but they are artistic masters of twigs and twine, and spend much of their time collecting both.
Cheers to you from the very busy, very happy weavers~
(Click on paired birds to see more detail.)
They probably discussed who left that leave lying around 😉
They were definitely nonplussed by it’s presence!
The birds are cute, the captions are awesome. Thank you for sharing, Cindy. 🙂
Thank you for being such a wonderful friend Ranu! 🐥
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Some weaver birds photographed by Cindy Knoke
The 🐥🐥 and I are grateful for you Patricia! <3
Very beautiful birds and I feel sure, that they enjoy the freedom around the Holler. You only shoot them with camera, Cindy 😀
I love 🐥🐥 and would only ever shoot them with love and my camera! <3
Gregarious birds are awesome. There’s nothing quite like being visited by birds. I love the caption regarding the leaf. Funny. Beautiful photos, Cindy. Happy Thanksgiving!
I love my blogging friends and I love your very sweet comment. Happy Thanksgiving! 🐥
Stunning photos as always and so much information. Thank you.
Watching birds teaches us how to live in the moment and be happy. Happy Thanksgiving!
So true, Cindy. Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.
<3 🐦
I love how colorful those birds are and their feathers are so fluffy! Very beautiful birds! I wished we had more colorful ones here too! I think this next summer I will plant some things to try and attract different kinds of birds in my yard. Provided Lucy doesn’t try and chase them away! Happy Thanksgiving sweetie! Hugz Lisa and Lucy
Oh I hope you do plant butterfly and bird attracting plants. It makes your home a happiness inducing retreat! 🐥
I am going to! I want to hang hummingbird feeders too! My yard has been all grass for too long! Time to plant pretty plants and flowers and totally put plants on my huge deck
I will send pics on my progress
Awesome! <3
The weavers look like they fluff up their snowy feathers. Beautiful! Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving, Cindy!
They fluff up their feathers if you whistle tunes at them. This is absolutely true. They are adorable creatures! 🐥
Weavers bring back memory of a trip to Kenya where our guide called me a black capped social weaver. Would you believe I actually got home with a weaver bird nest which I still have?
Oh I love your nickname and so amazing you brought back a weaver’s nest! Good for you! When I left S. Africa on our first trip, I opened my suitcase in Paris, and an African frog jumped out, hopped around the room, and jumped out the window into Paris! Frogs can self reproduce and I always wondered if there would be a subsequent African frog population in Paris!
Marvelous, marvelous, marvelous, what a joy it must be that you get the benefits of their escape plan.
They are the most affectionate charming birds. I love sitting with them and whistling at them and watching them respond. 🐥
I’m so in-twiged by these beautiful birds. ¸.•*¨*✧♡✧⊹⋛⋋(‘Θ’◍)⋌⋚⊹ ℒℴѵℯ ✧♡✧*¨*•.❥
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Loved this post, as always, Cindy. I have only seen weavers in the wild, so what fun it is to see them collecting twigs and contemplating leaves even in captivity. Beautiful and industrious birds.
African birds are so human friendly. I remember them visiting our outdoor kitchens like pets. We named them. So utterly charming………
I once stayed a night in a treehouse surrounded by weaver nests in South Africa. Dawn was noisy!
Dawn in South Africa is awesome because of the bird song! Thank you for reminding me and so glad you have experienced this. 🕊️
Wow. Amazing.
Merci beaucoup mon ami! 🕊️
Some of these creatures are Princeton grads wearing the orange and black, tigers, tigers, siss boom bah!
Cracking up……Love it! 🕊️
Oysters, oysters, raw, raw, raw! Fried are okay, but no Rockefeller.
Pretty bird! Pretty bird!
The 🕊️🕊️ appreciate your excellent taste!
I had to laugh about the leaf bit 🙂 The next picture with the twig is wonderful!
They were like magpies. I was sitting on a bench watching them and they brought me twigs as presents! 🕊️
You know I’m smiling a big smile after looking at your pictures here — BIRDIES!!! YES!!! Thank you so much! I love the expression on the face of the Weaver with a twig in it’s mouth lol.
I have so many photos of them with twigs like this! They would look directly at me as if to say, “You poor creature, look at what I have!” Laughing…….I love these 🕊️🕊️
Thank you for weaving such a cheerful story for us, Cindy.
Best wishes,
Tanja
Thank you for a comment that made me smile! 🕊️
These adorable birds could tell a story or two. Love the pictures!
And they are always talking……Too bad I am only partly fluent in bird! 🕊️
They are so beautiful birds !!!!!
The 🕊️🕊️ appreciate your good taste!
Beautiful species! 🙂
I <3 🕊️🕊️!
We had weavers in Liberia, Cindy, that we called rice birds. I am assuming they must have liked the rice that the Kpelle grew. 🙂 They build wonderful nests that hung down from the palm trees in sort of a J configuration. Really liked the discussion going on over the leaf. –Curt
Yes, they call those groupings of nests, “apartments.” Watching these birds is one of the most calming things a human can do. So glad you saw them in the wild! 🕊️
Such beautiful birds! The complexity of the nests they create, using little more than their beaks, is astounding.
🕊️ intelligence has been so underrated. I am glad science is finally catching up to the complexity of their cognitive and behavioral abilities. Birds can do so many things that humans can’t even begin to understand.
You capture nature’s creatures beautifully! And we’re lucky to be able to see what you see. Thanks! And Happy Thanksgiving, too.
Awww, such a <3 warming and lovely comment. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving too! 🕊️
These birds are colourful characters – they’re really wonderful!
The 🐤🐤 agree with you & I thank you! <3
I don’t guess I’ve ever seen one of these guys, but they’re certainly beautiful! Such pretty colors and intense facial expressions. Thank you for sharing them with us, Cindy!
Thank you more for appreciating the 🐤🐤 Debbie & cheers to you! <3
Awesomeness!
The 🐤🐤 think you have excellent judgement! 😉
Smiles 🙂
<3
It’s always fun to watch the birds and their antics. Thanks for sharing Cindy.
Leslie
Thank you more for appreciating & cheers to you Leslie!
Thank you Cindy.
Leslie
<3 <3
🙂
Their feathers look fluffy and soft. Good narrative to go with them.
They fluff up like that when you whistle to them with a tune. They get all fluffed and happy! 🐦
What great feather detail – superb images of these beautiful birds, Cindy!
This is the work of the new Sony RX10-IV!
Oh my goodness, I miss your blog, Cindy! I hope to have time to catch up on the posts over Christmas. Have a lovely Thanksgiving! <3
You too Teresa and I love your happy posts too! 🐦
Outstanding opening pic! Cheers to nature’s weavers … and Happy Thanksgiving!
Visa versa 2UX2! 🐦
Clever birds – and beautiful. (About how many of us humans is that a truth?) Glorious shots again of course.
I love your rhetorical question and I know the answer! 🐦
🐥
Wow! These are awesome crystal clear and details pictures. I am guessing these are from your new camera?
You are guessing right and this was my first day really testing it out, so I am still learning. It has serious potential. Thank you & cheers to you~ 🐦
great shots Cindy! Always crystal sharp! I wonder what the little guys did before our twine came around?
They use Mother Nature’s twine, not ours. The Holler orioles for example strip twine from palm trees and weave their entire nest with it! I have photos of this which maybe I should post. You may not see this in a conifer forest, but if you look around many habitats, twine exists in all sorts of plants and trees.
Cedar bark will tear off in thin strips.I’ll ask my birding friend If we have any weavers up our way?
Let me know what you learn. I think you well might have some, but I only found this reference:
Birds of the Pacific Northwest Mountains: The Cascade Range, the …
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0878423087
Jan L. Wassink – 1995 – Nature
The Cascade Range, the Olympic Mountains, Vancouver Island, and the Coast Mountains Jan L. Wassink. Common … Named for the nest-weaving habits of some of its members — who weave the most complex and largest nests in the bird world — weaver finches have short, conical bills adapted to cracking seeds.
My friend says the “House Sparrow” is a weaver in this area.
Yep! Now I have a excuse…umm…. I mean a reason to come back up there and search for them, with you, and our cameras! Be well my friend~
& If we can’t find one….I’ll introduce you to Romeo & Juliette!
OMG, that would be utter perfection.
Magnificent birds. Thank you for the stunning photos.
Thank you more for appreciating the 🐦🐦!
You’re welcome!
<3
Lovely!! Gorgeous birds and beautiful photos!
You are very kind & most appreciated! 🐦
Fabulous photos and words. Can’t stop smiling! Happy Happy Thanksgiving Cindy 💛
Visa versa 2UX2 dear Val! <3 🐦
They are gorgeous and your photos are excellent! My cat keeps eating the birds, I have to see birds through a post like this 🙂
Cats do take a major toll on birds, so do roadrunners!
I adore them!!!! I notice they wear bracelets???
Yes they are tagged and in an aviary at a wildlife park!
They are beautiful and clever!! Incredible photo captures, amazing clarity.
Thank you for the post, Cindy! 🙂
Thank you more for the very kind appreciation and Happy Thanksgiving Amy! <3
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Cindy! <3
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Love your photos. And love the Safari Park. I’m quite close to it too … just need to get there during the cooler months! Call me a wimp…
Nope. Not a wimp. Wise. The park is very hot in mid summer and I most especially hate the mists of water sent over human visitors to mitigate the mid-summer heat because it is the only place I go where I have to really shield my camera from the water. The best time is early fall, before the teachers have geared up for all the field trips. And the best time to overstay is at closing, because the keepers expect this, the diehards remain, and you get good photo ops.
Gorgeous and so delightful. Thank you.
You know I thank you.
Wonderful captures. I assume you have already figured out that new camera! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Someday, when my life changes, and I remain at The Holler all the time, I will ask you which dog(s) would be happy here.
I hope you have a Wonderful Thanksgiving too!
And when that day comes…I will be happy to help you find your perfect companion. 🙂
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All the birds are very… pretty.🙂
Yes they are! You made me smile. Thank you for that very much~
Great photos as always!
Merci beaucoup mon ami!
Terrific photos. I love the one with the twig!
He is a very cute and very industrious birdie!
Delightful and extremely professional pictures Cindy, your talent is photographically divine.
Cheers.
I am honored and humbled by your kindness. Thank you & cheers too!
More super shots. 400 flying free – what a wonderful thought
Thank you and yes it is a wonderful thought!
I love your photos and commentary Cindy. Are these photos taken with your new camera? The details are wonderful as are your amusing backstory. Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving Brad & yes these were taken with the Rx-10-IV~
Thanks Cindy. Cheers!
<3
Finally bookmarked you on my ‘new’ laptop 😉
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Congrats on the new laptop and Happy Thanksgiving!
These are so beautiful! Those Buffalo Weavers with the white breasts just look so soft and fluffy. Makes one want to just snuggle! Wishing you and yours a beautiful happy Thanksgiving, my friend! I am blessed by you! 😀
And I by you Linda! <3 Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours~
What smart and elegant birds, Cindy. It’s always a pleasure to see you’ve visited my blog and left me a good word. Hope you’re having a wonderful day!
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Awww thanks Cindy. Back at you:-)
<3
Your gorgeous photos, Cindy, have made me a little nostalgic for something I can’t quite identify. I’ve always had a strong feeling that I should be able to fly, and often have had a deep urge to do so. I must be part weaver, because I love collecting twigs, as well as the human version: branches. The detail in these photos is amazing ❤
I think humans are meant to love birds! <3
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What a beautiful bird. Such dazzling colours and captured so well through your lens.
Thank you Vicki. Some birds seem built to cheer us up!
Gorgeous creatures, Cindy!
Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving!
Warm greetings,
The Fab Four of Cley,
Dina
Thank you! Just read you are in the charming Cotswolds and sent you a note about it. <3
Schöne Aufnahmen… Danke Cindy
Du bist sehr gutig Ernst! Habt ein tolles Wochenende ~
<3 I would love to know what they were discussing over a leaf. It would be funnier if the discussion had nothing to do with the leaf. lol Thank you for sharing the beautiful pictures Cindy!
Maybe they were arguing about unfair allocation of nest building duties………
lol so funny Cindy!
🦆
Stunning photos!
Very kind of you & most appreciated!
Beutiful little birdies, at first in one of the photos I thought it was the “American eagle” what’s the name of that one by the way? but is a Buffalo Weaver, maybe the American eagle and this one fight to see who is who is more recognised. Anyways, glad to be back for at least a bit of time and read you all and see your pictures, they always fascinate me.
Glad you are back and hope all is well with you! You are thinking of The Bald Eagle. This guy does have a similar white head, but is much smaller. Wonderful to hear from you & cheers too!
Beautiful sequence. 🙂
Very pleased you enjoyed & cheers to you! 🦆
Wonderful shots!
Excuse my delayed response. I have been at sea for 30 days. Thank you for your kind comment and Happy New Year!
Beautiful photos, Cindy. I became a real birder when we were in Africa – the weavers were my favorite bird!
Every creature in Africa is just more amazing than anywhere else, so I can well understand how you became a birder from being there!
How great to see such wonderful colours and detail
Sometimes it seems that birds are colored to make the world more beautiful! 🦆
Aren’t they beauties?
The 🦆🦆🦆 agree with you!
Those birds are blessed with such delicate, intricate beauty. No wonder they are impelled to create intricate nests! Love the pictures — and your commentary.
Thank you! I love your very kind comment~
Magnificent images, Cindy. Truly remarkable.
Oh, I am honored and humbled. Thank you very much! 🦆
Cindy, I have missed seeing your beautiful images and these do not disappoint. Such colorful and industrious birds!
Thank you Lydia! You make me happy I posted them~
I love how you capture their individual personalities. We no so little of their community structures – but one thing is certain, they have many wonderful conversations. Hugs!!
And they are so forgiving when I misquote them! 🐦
We could learn so much from their example!! 🙂
<3 <3
Stunningly beautiful!!
We both know that 🐦🐦 are beautiful creatures!
stunning beautiful photos and valuable info about them is commendable Cindy
Hugs and cheers to you my friend! 🐦
<3 with thanks and warm wishes
<3 <3
my pleasure Cindy dear
I have shared the link of this post in :www.facebook.com/MyOfficialDiary
That is so kind of you. Forgive my delay in responding. I have been at sea for 30 day! Happiest New Year to you!
Such beautiful and busy birds. Lovely post, Cindy. 🙂
Thanks much. Birds are busy, and they are happy. I bet there might be a connection!
Beyond beautiful pictures!!
Grazie Mille! 🐦
Wow! Great photos!
Muchas gracias y felicidades!
De nada!
Wonderful photographs Cindy! I hope you had a warm and loving Thanksgiving!
I did, thank you Robert & all the best to you my friend!
Hi Cindy, as always, your pictures are made all the more enchanting by the commentary accompanying them. Thank you for the birdie-feast tonight! Smiles, xx
Thank you more for such a kind and motivating comment!
Wonderful pictures – the birds are so beautiful.
Thank you Sheryl. They make every tree they rest upon even prettier!
Lovely photos Cindy and I so enjoy your commentary. The two birds discussing the leaf looks like their having an intense conversation.
Birds can have strong bonds with each other. They will often risk their own lives to save their fellow bird!
Reblogged this on Kat's Writing Runway and commented:
Awesome Pictures! Cheers to you too!
So kind of you and much appreciated too! Cheers back 2UX2!
I absolutely love your work!
I love you for saying such a wonderful thing! Thank you & cheers to you~ <3
<3 <3
Orange is one of my favourite colours Cindy and that Red Bishop just glows. Beautiful photos. Is this your new camera?
Yes, it is and hopefully we are heading to South America in a few days so I can give it a really good run!
Will look forward to seeing the photos.
<3
These weavers are oh so beautiful and love your delightful commentary. Thanks again Cindy for following my posts and sharing yours. You are a gem!
Visa versa 2UX2! <3
They are so pristine Cindy!! Beautifully photographed (like always!). and amazing that you have their “cousins” living in the neighborhood!! We have a large flock of bright green (noisy!!) parrots near us– one morning I counted 40 on the telephone wires!! And– How was your Thanksgiving?? I’m remembering your berry pies! xox
I am so jealous you have wild parrots! I would love to have them at The Holler! <3
ha ha ha! You have to also love a lot of noisy squawking!! They are pretty remarkable. xo
Wow…lovely birds
The 🐦🐦 think you have excellent taste!
So sweet!
They are sweet and sociable birdies!
I love just watching the birds. Especially when they fly all together it’s amazing.
Yes, flocking behavior is mysterious and amazing!
Beautiful photos, but the first bird seems to be ‘holding’ on all wrong. I know I would hold the cable differently had I been a bird 🙂
You would make a wonderful bird and you could teach the birds too! <3
I loved the really cute birds and your fun comments. I do wonder why they are studying that leaf?
The little bracelets on the birds may have a homing device to see how far these birds roam, fly and explore. I’m just guessing. One lucky bird has a silver and a pink one, too. ❤ Thank you for sharing!
Hugs and Happiest New Year dear Robin. I look forward to sharing 2018 with you!
Bonjour mon ami amie CINDY
Juste un sourire pour toi
Je le laisse sortir de mon cœur
C’est un sourire en douceur
il va éclairer ton visage
Je le partage avec tous mes amis amies
de celui ou celle qui le reçois
peu importe son âge
il le rendra heureux ou heureuse
Alors pour toi mon ami amie
je te fais encore un beau sourire
pour te souhaiter une bonne journée ou soirée
Bisous
Bernard
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http://www.mamalisa.com/images/blog/bonne_annee.jpg
Hey Cindy,
I love seeing your Weavers! Wonderful as always! ♥️
Thank you very much & excuse my late reply. I am in Chile now and have very little access to wifi!
It looks like you’re having a marvellous time on your current trip, seasons greetings to you, your colour photos are truly breathtaking, I want to go to Peru now.
Peru is all texture, color and art. You would love Peru. Hugs to you dear friend <3
Cindy, the detail in your photos is incredible!!!! I am in awe. Have you ever photographed the weaver’s nests? Would love to see one…
No I haven’t which bugs me a lot. Orioles are weavers and they populate The Holler in huge numbers in the summer. I saw a community of nests once, but wasn’t sure what it was. I think they nest in the dense oak forests. It bothers me a lot that I saw them, didn’t register it. Plus the oak groves are full of poison ivy, weird bugs, that crawl and bite into my rattlesnake books. The Holler is an interesting place….
Well I guess they carefully hide their artful creations and homes! I’ll bet you will come across them again some day! 😀
I will look again in the spring!