119 Sociable weaver nests on an Acacia tree in the Kalahari Desert of Namibia Photo by Giles Laurent

A CLOSER LOOK

Nests of Sociable weaver on an Acacia tree in the Kalahari Desert of Namibia. Endemic to the arid regions of southern Africa, the sociable weaver is the only bird species known to construct such massive, permanent communal nests. These structures can house hundreds of individual birds in separate nesting chambers beneath a thick thatched roof, providing insulation against the extreme temperatures of the Namibian environment. The nests may remain in use for many decades, with successive generations continuously expanding and maintaining them. Their remarkable architecture also provides shelter for numerous other bird species and small animals, making them an important component of the local e

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