ML71706041

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

adult bird weaving

Observation details

Baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus) was found breeding at Kampung Sedukup, Kuching, Sarawak. The location is situated in Kuching District in the upper Samarahan River Basin about 40 Km from Kuching City along Kuching / Serian Road.There are five kampungs in the area, namely Kpg. Sekuduk, Kpg Payang, Kpg.Chupak, Kpg. Panchor and Kpg. Sg. Langsat. The area is under the Sekudup Chupak irrigation scheme to provide the area with an irrigation and drainage system to promote intensive agricultural activities through double cropping padi. On August 27, we drove to Kampung Chupak to check out the birds there. We took a detour and turn into Kampung Sedukup. Driving along the small road along the paddy fields we saw round and oval objects hanging from two of the palm trees. We knew instantly these were the nests of the Baya Weavers, as we have seen them in Thailand. We looked around and saw another tree further down with a lot of nests too.Each of these trees has about 20-25 nests. The Baya weavers which we estimated around 20 individuals were flying among the grassland and paddy fields.The males were in breeding plumage. Some were seen foraging in the old harvested paddy fields. The nests were in different stages of completion. Several males were seen busy fixing up their nests. Some females were also seen flying into the completed nests with food in the mouth. Seems that some of the nests are active nest with chicks inside. We spent three hours observing them. On our last visits on 1st September 2017, there were less activities going on.We stayed therefrom 7 am to 11.30 am. Less birds were seen.some females were seen busy flying to and fro between their nest and the paddy fields. They were picking up bits of mud and flying into their nest. My guess is they are using the mud to reinforced the inside of their nest chamber. Munias were seen building their nests too on that same palm tree. There has not been any report of Baya Weavers breeding in Sarawak. Baya weavers were sighted a few years ago in the area but so far, no nests . The Baya weavers could be migrants initially as they are not always around. They were not seen for a couple of years and it was really a pleasant surprise to see that have started to breed here. Hope they are here to stay and we will get to see colonies of Baya Weavers in future.

Technical information

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