THE sociable weaver is a bird found over most of Namibia, South Western Botswana and Northern Cape and North West Province.
These weavers are highly gregarious, living in colonies of six to 300 birds.
Each colony is associated with communally built mass nests, which they build on the stout branch or fork of an acacia tree, windmill platform or cross piece of telephone pole. They build onto the nest throughout the year and most of the day, carrying one stick or straw at a time. The nest chambers are used for roosting and breeding.
The large nest can be up to four metres deep and seven metres long. Vertical entrances are made from below to prevent entry by cape cobras and boomslangs but to little effect, as their eggs and young are preyed on heavily by these snakes.
They forage on the ground within 1,5km of the nest, usually hopping quickly and uncovering food by flicking sand aside with their bill. When disturbed, the flock flies to the top of bush, tree or fence. Insects comprise 16% to 80% of its diet and seeds some 20% to 84%.
They call frequently in flight and at nest, less often when feeding. A metallic staccato ‘chip chip’ is their contact call and a rapid higher pitched ‘chip – chip – chip – chip’ is their flight call.
Breeding takes place any month according to rainfall and one season may last up to nine months, with up to four broods per season. Each female lays three to four dull white eggs. The incubation lasts 13 to 14 days and they are nestlings for 21 to 24 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and an adult helper.
The bird’s Tswana name is kgwerere and in Afrikaans, die versamelvoel.
