3mo ago

Spacious, with an open floor plan and cathedral ceilings

Hello friends, I'm sharing with you this photo of a barn owl that I received from a friend who lives in the desert of southern Africa. Have a great day.
Coucou les amis je vous partage cette photo d une chouette effraie reçu d une amie qui est dans le desert du sud de I Afrique. Passez une chouette journée.

I believe this is a nest made by the Sociable Weaver. These nests are large enough to hold over 100 pairs of weavers, making them possibly the largest bird-made structures.

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The species builds large, compound, community nests, a rarity among birds. These nests are perhaps the most spectacular structure built by any bird
(source)
Learn something new every day, wow :o
- I was really surprised reading about the "climate control" provided by the shelter. It looks like it would trap heat, and in a positive way it does. It's amazing what they have been able to figure out over countless generations.
  
  I think they are fascinating to watch, it's like a beaver dam in a tree. The barn owls here settle in the dark spots of open roofs I remember they have a distinctive avian smell it's kind of a gentle smell.
  
  Totally! I also remember reading about something similar:
  Differences in position and shape of burrow openings of black-tailed prairie dogs create passive ventilation from wind energy by altering air pressure.
  https://asknature.org/strategy/asymmetric-burrow-openings-create-passive-ventilation/
Looks cozy. A little creepy.. But probably not so creepy when you yourself are the biggest creep in the night.
- The wiki entry talks about some residents occasionally snacking on each other, but it's pretty cool it is essentially a mixed use structure used by numerous species, at least as peacefully as wildlife tends to get.
- My wife says it triggers her trypophobia. I don't see why, but that's phobias for you.
  It looks... ominous? Like a malignant growth. Knowing it's constructed helps, but yeah. I know what you mean.
  
  Honestly, same. This picture makes my bones itch.
  
  Upside down Sarlacc pit 🙃
  
  I can definitely imagine huge spider legs hanging out of it.
slaps nest*
You can fit so many Sociable Weavers in this bad boy!
- The ultimate in avian modular housing!
Large nesting colonies can be active across many generations, sometimes over 199 years.
Interesting read. Learned about robbbers and squatters, too. Thanks!
- One never knows what we'll learn on Superbowl, but it's always fascinating!
  
  Absolutely! And activity is increasing, which makes learning more likely, and the conversation is good. Unfortunately I have to get off my duff soon and get busy, but I'm very pleased with the activity and diversity of users itt. Thanks for keeping this magazine active and interesting! Looking forward to hearing about your concert, too!
These nests are large enough to hold over 100 pairs of weavers, making them possibly the largest bird-made structures.
Sietches of Fre~~man~~bird
- That is a very fitting comparrison!
For some reason this perspective reeeeeally messes with my head
- It was a very odd photo to come across!
  I got it from a French owl community, so I couldn't initially read the what context was. I assumed it was a big nest, but as you said, the perspective isn't from an angle we look at most things. The whole thing just looks so alien, and it isn't often a Tyto owl is the least alien looking thing in a photo! 😄
Amazing. I wonder what it's like to live in one.
- If it's cooler than the surrounding desert, I'm all in! 🥵
  One other commenter sounded a bit familiar with these nests and said they had a relatively pleasant smell, which is better than I'd expect for something hundreds of birds has lived in for multiple generations, so another plus there.
  Much like for the rest of us, I imagine one's neighbor's would have an impact on our overall experience. I wouldn't want to be the bird living across from the hungry looking falcon that just moved in!

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