Weaver Birds - Fussy Homemakers

Weaver birds build the most extraordinary nests, taking care, time and patience to achieve what I consider a feat in the construction industry.  They build the most elaborate nests of all birds, they are natures engineers.  The males build the nest, the females come in at the last moment to give them the seal of approval, or not. 

First, the males find a suitable collection of branches for their new home.  This has to be hanging in a well ventilated place, safe from marauding snakes and built to perfection.  Normally two or three branches are tied together to form a basis for the nest - imagine trying to tie your shoelaces with your mouth.  Then strands of grass, individually chosen, are woven around these twigs to form a  nest in the shape of a carafe of wine suspended from the ceiling.  It takes the male days to accomplish this, sometimes making up to 500 trips to collect suitable pieces of grass, whilst the female watches his every move. 

Once the nest is ready, the female comes to inspect the nest.  If it is not to a suitable standard she will destroy the whole nest whilst the male looks on in bewilderment.  He must then start all over again, building a new one, and to a better standard than the previous one.

Sound familiar?