Original piece for Wild Art 2021

Watercolour and gouache on paper
180mm x 180mm, signed, unframed

The Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) is widespread species native to mainland India and Southeast Asia. They are known for their intricately woven nests - built out of long strips of paddy leaves, grass, and strips torn from palm fronds. 

Nests are built predominately by males, as part of a courtship ritual, and can take up to 500 trips to complete. The nests are partially built before mating and completed once the females have signalled their approval based on both structure and location. Males are polygamous, successively mating with 2-3 females per breeding season. Females are solely responsible for incubating and raising their young, while their counterparts bugger off at the first sign of stability to impregnate other ladies with partially finished homes.