Weaver birds are the artisans extraordinaire of the bird world. As their name suggests, they fashion intricate nests out of plant material, carefully threaded and woven into a solid structure. All of it is done, quite literally, without lifting a finger.

These birds were all building nests in a tree outside a delightful winery called Delheim, which does an exceptional line of dessert wines. While my wife was inside sampling them, I was outside snapping away at this colony.

The males are the ones who do the weaving, and their efforts advertise their skill and quality to potential mates. By picking the best structure, a female gets not only the most comfortable home but some assurance about the genetic standards of