https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammerkop The strangest aspect of hamerkop behaviour is the huge nest, sometimes more than 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) across, comprising perhaps 10,000 sticks and strong enough to support a mans weight. The birds decorate the outside with any bright-coloured objects they can find. When possible, they build the nest in the fork of a tree, often over water, but if necessary they build on a bank, a cliff, a human-built wall or dam, or on the ground. A pair starts by making a platform of sticks held together with mud, then builds walls and a domed roof. A mud-plastered entrance 13–18 centimetres (5.1–7.1 in) wide in the bottom leads through a tunnel up to 60 centimetres (24 in) long to a nesting chamber big enough for the parents and young.[4] These birds are compulsive nest builders, constructing three to five nests per year whether they are breeding or not. ive never been sure if this is *the* biggest nest built by a single pair of birds but hamerkop nests are definitely right up there, which is even more impressive when you consider that theyre basically ducksized. they look very strange too - looking vaguely like a hammer, hence the name. i was reminded of them because someone else posted about shoebills, and these are probably their closest relatives. theyre the only member of their family. there are a few photos of their nests in the article and theyre pretty incredible
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 21:50:11 +0000
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