Africa Wild Bird Book: Comments & Suggestions

[ExFmem]

Paradise-flycatcher on nest (male)





Female feeding baby

[Toko]

Stunning

[ExFmem]

I saw this was on the list, so will post it, but it is really a BAD pic, so if you wish to not use it I would certainly concur.

African Firefinch

[ExFmem]

Thanks Toko.

[Toko]

-O -O -O though a good pic.

Soon we will have a big thick book

[Dewi]

Some stunning photos ExFmem. Thanks for adding them to the book.

[ExFmem]

(I feel like I'm hogging this topic. Should I be posting these things elsewhere, or just give it a rest, already !!!)

Sociable Weaver Bird Nests

Pest control system: Wild Everlasting (Helichrysum) contains a neurotoxin (which, by the way, causes blindness and chronic encephalopathy in sheep and goats). The sociable weaver birds use it at the opening of their nests as an insecticide. After construction they pick dried flowers, (so the toxins are even more concentrated), and stick them around the entryways to the individual nests to ward off insects and parasites.

[Mel]

You're not hogging anything - we're more than happy that you share your
amazing collection of photos with us!!! Thanks.

[Flutterby]

Really interesting! Thanks ExFmem!!

[Toko]

ExFmem

Have added the Crake, Firefinch and Flycatcher

Re Sociaable Weaver - Pygmy Falcon associaction I will do some searching and reading first, I think it is more complex as you have described

1. the equivalent of a doberman pincher protecting the premises: They allow one of their nests to be occupied by a bird of prey in exchange for its ability to attack and kill predators. This designated nest is conspicuous by the presence of a white substance at its entryway. This is the excrement of the Pygmy Falcon.

This study suggests, the benefit for the falcon is the thermoregulation.
Co-operative breeding in the Pygmy Falcon Polihierax semitorquatus

though there is as yet no evidence that Pygmy Falcons are able successfully to deter snakes

There is also a present study at Tswalu: http://weavers.adu.org.za/newstable.php?id=205

Interesting stuff