kenya: sunbird nesting
a few months ago, a sunbird started building a nest outside one of our offices. it was so close that i could reach out and cut off a leaf that was blocking my view, so we were able to watch the entire building process.
it would seem that in sunbird world, the women make the nests. here is the female sunbird starting to make the nest.
so the man just sits around drinking beer, watching tv and generally doing nothing? of course not, no man would do that!...hes busy...um...watching the nest. providing security. tiring work indeed.
notice also that in sunbirds, the man is much better looking - he has the cool iridiscent black / emerald color. also a longer tail.
sunbirds mainly eat nectar from flowers, but also insects - you can see some dinner remains on this females beak...
finally the nest is done and the mother can sit on her egg.
the little sunbird broke out of its tiny shell and eventually grew up and flew away. it was such a privilege to be able to watch the process close up.
this last picture of course is not the sunbird - its a weaver bird also finding material to construct its nest. its quite a bit bigger and uses much heavier stuff to build its nest - hence its attack on the palm tree.
it would seem that in sunbird world, the women make the nests. here is the female sunbird starting to make the nest.
so the man just sits around drinking beer, watching tv and generally doing nothing? of course not, no man would do that!...hes busy...um...watching the nest. providing security. tiring work indeed.
notice also that in sunbirds, the man is much better looking - he has the cool iridiscent black / emerald color. also a longer tail.
sunbirds mainly eat nectar from flowers, but also insects - you can see some dinner remains on this females beak...
finally the nest is done and the mother can sit on her egg.
the little sunbird broke out of its tiny shell and eventually grew up and flew away. it was such a privilege to be able to watch the process close up.
this last picture of course is not the sunbird - its a weaver bird also finding material to construct its nest. its quite a bit bigger and uses much heavier stuff to build its nest - hence its attack on the palm tree.
