"Remember His marvelous works that He hath done; His wonders, and the judgments of His
Those interested in birds find a never-ending pleasure and amazement in discovering the great variety God has made and provided for. The weaver birds of Africa, Asia, India and Java, represent an interesting species and are noted for their intricate nests, braided by their beaks and feet from grass, bark strips, plant stems, etc. Each group has its own design, some looking like haystacks suspended from tree branches, others securely tied to a tree trunk. Openings are always either at the side or bottom through which they enter, climbing a long tube to the nest above.
One variety, the sociable weavers, form colonies of several hundred nests around a large tree trunk. When the nests are completed they work together to build an umbrella-shaped covering over the whole colony. Another species, the village weavers, also form colonies, but these hang a great number of nests from a single tree without building a covering. From a distance their nests look like great pieces of fruit hanging from the limbs.
The Jackson's weaver's nest is unusual. An extra-long home is made from thin strips of palm leaves, and then suspended from a branch with its opening at the bottom. The tube inside goes part way to the top, ending at a point where a huge bulge forms the nest, off-center and to one side only. A black-headed species, the b ay a weaver, with a mixture of dark brown and yellow feathers, also builds an unusual nest which looks like it has a large ball crossing its center, making it bulge far out on both sides.
Most weavers are about the size of robins and are equipped with short, strong bills. Males are often bright red, orange, yellow and black, although some are all black. Females are plain brown, the Creator's way of concealing them from enemies.
When seeking a mate, the male bird often makes several nests, and when a companion is found he lets her choose one of them. Usually after she has chosen one he tears down the others, but sometimes he'll find more mates to fill the unused ones.
An amazing thing about weavers (and many other birds too) is that if the eggs are hatched artificially and kept away from their parents until mature, the offspring have no difficulty building nests identical to those of their parents! Where do you think they learned this? This is another example of the wonders of God's creation, the One "In whose hand is the soul [life] of every living thing." Job 12:1010In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:10).
In the same book of the Bible we are instructed: "Hear My words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto Me." We should certainly do this, "For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings." Job 34:2,212Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. (Job 34:2)
21For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. (Job 34:21). We also are given the wonderful promise, "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life." John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24). Are you among those who have both heard and believed?