Having carefully watched the Vance Walz debate on the zoo TV this morning I am hugely pleased that God is in control of this Universe.

I am astonished that he can create such a wonderful range of infinitely variable creatures and worlds from huge to microscopic. Praise His Holy Name!

This little bird is exquisite in design.

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Gibber! Gibber!

Chugley

The multiplication mystery of the Southern masked Weaver

by Tas Walker

This male Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus) from southern Africa, some 12.5 cm (5 in) long, hangs upside down to finish weaving his elaborate nest. He is doing his part to produce the next generation.

With his strong, conical beak, he collects the materials he needs, such as strips of reeds and palm blades, and weaves these into the nest. He knows what to collect, and how to build the nest. He chooses where to attach it, how to affix the first strips of material, and the way to add the subsequent pieces.The nest design is remarkable. It hangs like a large pear from a suitable support such as a tree branch, a bush, or even a wire fence. It has a downward-facing entrance and a ceiling inside to protect from rain.

The nest design is remarkable. It hangs like a large pear from a suitable support such as a tree branch, a bush, or even a wire fence. It has a downward-facing entrance and a ceiling inside to protect from rain. The woven construction protects from the sun, wind, and predators, and keeps the chicks warm at night. After the male has built the nest, the hen lines it with feathers or grass-seed heads to make it soft and warm.

It is interesting to consider the amazing knowledge, skills, and project management talent required. Creating the nest and the eggs, incubating them and then caring for the chicks, is a co-operative effort between two individual birds, the male and female. The interdependence and complexity of the process is astounding. The question arises, where did these birds learn to weave their nesting masterpiece? How did they know when to begin building? Or how to care for the chicks?

The timing is one remarkable aspect. The nest must be finished when the female needs to lay her eggs—typically 2–5. She then sits on them for some 14 days until they hatch. After that, the female feeds and cares for the chicks until they leave the nest, which can take up to 21 days. Sometimes the male will help.

The question arises, where did these birds learn to weave their nesting masterpiece? How did they know when to begin building? Or how to care for the chicks? From the very beginning, these weavers had to be proficient in every aspect of parenting, or there would not have been a next generation. This is another mystery where the Bible makes sense of the world. The knowledge, skills, motivation, and instinct were provided by the Creator Himself at the beginning, when He created birds on Day 5 of Creation Week (Genesis 1:20–23).