As it was my custom to stare out of the window while I searched for creative ideas, I noticed a little weaver bird that was busily building its nest. Not a naturalist, I was surprised when I saw the bird hurriedly pulling it apart again. "That's what weavers do." I was told on enquiring. "The nest has to be accepted by the lady weaver." That bird built the nest at least ten times before summer was over. What an interesting story for children, I thought.

WILLIE THE WEAVER BIRD
by Shirley Friedman

...... It was Willie's first season. It seemed such a short time ago that he had pecked his way through his egg shell, and met his brothers and sisters as well as his mother and father. At first all he could think about was food, but as soon as he was big and strong enough, his mother taught him to fly, telling him that he must be ready to build a nest when the nesting season came.
..........Willie was nearly a year old when his mother said "Off you go, Willie. The trees are shaking out their leaves, and the flowers are smiling at the sun. It's spring, and time for you to start your own family.
.........."How do I do that, mother?" he asked.
.........."First you have to build a nest," she said. "Then you ask a lady weaver if she will share it with you. I must warn you," she said seriously, "that your nest must be just right, or she will just ruffle her feathers, toss her head and fly away."
.........."That won't happen to me," Willie boasted, for he was quite a cheeky little bird. "All the lady weavers will want to share my nest."
.........."We'll see," said his mother, hiding a smile, and off Willie went.
..........Of course, Willie had lived in his father's nest for a long time, so he had a pretty good idea of how it should be built. And weaving was natural for him, for after all he was a weaver bird. But the first nest he built had a lady weaver twittering with laughter, so he hurriedly pulled it to bits. Then the next three nests still didn't meet the demands of the females he hopefully brought by, so he destroyed them too, but when his last and most painstaking effort, nest number ten, was still not right, he was ready to give up and spend the season alone. He just didn't know what he was doing wrong.
.........."Hallo youngster," a gruff voice said,"having some trouble?"
..........Willie looked up, and there on the branch above him was an older weaver, as Willie could see by the white markings on his plumage. He had obviously been around for several seasons, and was no doubt an excellent nest builder.
.........."I just can't get my nest right," said Willie sadly, "and I don't know what I'm doing wrong." .........."Don't be so upset," the older bird said, "it happens to all the boys. I'll give you some help if you like."
..........With that he swooped down from his branch, calling over his shoulder "Follow me!"
.........."It mustn't for any reason come loose, even if a storm whips the nest around ..... the floor must be extra strong ........it's very important to have enough room for the eggs to lie comfortably and safely ....." the instructions flew fast and thick. All the time Willie was hurrying to pick the best grass, and the strongest leaves, weaving them in and out, until his head began to whirl.
..........When they were finished, the nest hung strong and steady, waiting for some eager female to give it her approval. "Good luck!" called Willie's friend, as he swooped away. "Gotta go now. I hope I've helped."
..........The next day, Willie sat proudly by his nest, occasionally picking off the leaves on the branches around it, so that no snake or other egg-eating creature could come near without being seen, and he kept inspecting his nest to make sure it was absolutely perfect. But there were no lady weavers to be seen.
..........For the next few days the wind angrily whipped the branches around, rain streamed down as though Mother Nature had opened a tap in the sky, and it got so cold that Willie had to fluff up his feathers to get warm. Any lady weaver who ventured out in that weather would have been a little strange in the head, Willie thought, so he put his head under his wing and slept.
..........Eventually the rain stopped, and the clouds parted to allow the sun to shine through. White fluffy clouds were floating in a beautiful blue sky when Willie hopped out onto a branch near his nest, ready to catch the eye of a passing lady weaver. But very few came by. And those that did already had a partner to nest with. Willie finally realised that he was too late. He wouldn't be able to start nesting this year at all.
..........In disappointment he attacked the nest, and pulled it to pieces in minutes. Then he stripped several nearby branches. Leaves rained down on the green grass below, startling some busy beetles and ants.
.........."It's alright," his mother said, when he flew over to tell her. "I never expected you to start nesting the first year. It takes a lot of practice to get a nest just right."
..........So off Willie flew, feeling a little better. And you know what he did? He starting building a new nest, just so he wouldn't forget all the things his friend had taught him, and to keep in practice. ..........With such determination, I'm sure he'll do better next season, aren't you?
 
Back to Childrens Page * Back to Home Page