Southern Red Bishop Bird Nest Photography

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Category	birdnestphotos
Settings	f/5.6 1/320 sec ISO-125
Camera	Canon PowerShot SX160 IS
Lens	Bridge Camera Canon
Location	Amanzimtoti River KZN South Africa

Males _(especially in the bird kingdom)_ love to impress females, during mating season the Southern Red Bishop (Afrikaans: Rooivink) pull out all the stops, feathers transform into orange/red with black underbelly, resulting in a magnificent contrast of colours.

Now nest building is something to be tested, inspected the male can look as splendid, pleasing to the eye, if unable to pass building a strong, sturdy nest, he fails she will move on and find the next nest to test. He will normally build a few nests to attract females with his skills, no one really knows whether the females select to stay due to his building technique or whether they arrive randomly, it does appear female nest choice according to ideal free distribution in territories with highest number of available vacant nests at time of making a choice.

An oval shaped nest built between the reeds along river banks or dams, intricate weaving ensuring water and wind proof. Additional nests assist if accepted he could mate with three to eights females during breeding season, normally breeding takes place at the end of August going into Spring down South of the equator.

The male builds about 3-13 nests per breeding season, with each taking about 1-3 days to complete, tightly weaving thin strips of reeds and grass to form an oval-shaped structure with a side entrance covered by a hood. It is typically attached to reeds, sedges or bulrushes, or occasionally in crops such as maize.

Egg-laying season almost year-round, peaking from November-February.

It lays 1-5 eggs, which are incubated solely by the female for about 12-13 days.

The chicks are fed by the female only, leaving the nest after about 11-15 days.

Research-Image Link: http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/birds/ploceidae/euplectes_orix.htm