“I try to make it home for lunch most working days and there is much activity to observe. The resident pair of Common Ioras (Aegithina tiphia horizoptera) are very active calling as they work on their new nest. Both partners actively engaged.
“Had an opportunity to watch them harvest spider web to strengthen their nest, while we were having lunch. The bird would open its beak to snag the web (top), then twist the head to apply tension (above).
“After some attempts the web would snap. This particular web was ‘harvested’ 4 times in quick succession. The nest is extensively covered with web (above). A brief handheld video of the activity below.”
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
5th May 2014
Location: Canning Garden Home, Ipoh City, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Wild urban garden
Edna
Dato’ Dr Amar-Sing, thank you for your wonderful postings. They bring me
great knowledge and joy. The Common Iora harvesting the spider web was fascinating.
Bird Ecology Study Group Nesting of the Common Iora: 2. Incubation
[…] posted a pair of Common Ioras (Aegithina tiphia horizoptera) collecting spider web for their nest LINK. They are nesting in our immediate home environment and hence observations have become easy and […]