Baya Weaver: Ploceus philippinus (Female)

Baya Weaver: Ploceus philippinus (Female)

 

Once upon a time, the northern terminal spine of Aravallis stood strong and proud through Delhi. It was one of the oldest mountain ranges of this planet. I used "was" since the men and women of Delhi and its suburbs consumed the mountain range that came across along with the slice that broke off from the Gondwana plate. The Aravallis saw the Mahabharata, and before that, perhaps, one of the earliest cradles of civilization of man. But modern men and women have consumed them through machines for tiles, gated communities and even rubble to form the base for their highways.

 

This spine which extended from Gujarat to Delhi also supported extensive scrub forests of Babool, Kikar and the like. And on the branches of these trees bobbed the Baya's intricately woven nests whenever a gust blew through the ravines of this spine.

 

The Bayas were everywhere, too common to pay a second glance; their nests taken for granted, and when empty, used as decorative pieces after a coat of varnish to prevent degradation. As kids who played in clearings in such forests, we thought the Bayas and their nests would remain forever.

 

But kids grow up, their imagination of future is frequently proved wrong, it has been ages since I spotted a Baya in Delhi. Or even in nearby areas even though I have spotted Baya nests in Harayana and Rajasthan in the woods between fields. But the Bayas themselves eluded me. I was despairing.

 

However, on the 4th of October, 2014, I spotted this female of the species peeking curiously at my camera, perched atop a swaying bajra stalk in a field of Sawai Madhopur on the edge of Ranthambore National Park, Rajasthan.

 

I didn't spot the male anywhere though.

 

 Baya Weaver: Ploceus philippinus (Female)

 

IUCN Status: Least Concern. This actually surprises me since it is rare to spot a Baya nest in Delhi at least. But then this is Rajasthan and there are many Baya nests - of different species - dotting the countryside here.

 

Photographed at Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, India on 4.10.2014

Camera used: Nikon D5100 DSLR with Tamron 150-600mm Lens.