Baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus) nest in Pune, Maharashtra

The hanging nest of the baya weaver

The baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus) bird is found across the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The hanging nest you see in the picture – called a pendulous nest - is the signature architecture of this sparrow-sized weaver bird. Baya weavers depend on wild grass for nesting material – the nests often found on thorny trees and hanging on branches overlooking ponds, where they aren’t easy to prey on. Following a social structure, baya weavers often fly in close formation, undertaking complicated maneuvers in search of food and nesting material – the nests are usually formed in societies of 20-30. Feeding on ripe crops, these birds are sometimes considered pests.