Mysterious Structures in the Southern Kalahari

These mysterious grass-and-mud structures are home to a species called sociable weaver birds. In the southern Kalahari, these birds using telephone poles as the structural anchors for their nests. Image © Dillon Marsh

The Sociable Weaver or Social Weaver (Philetairus socius) is a species of bird in the Passeridae family endemic to Southern Africa. It is monotypic within the genus Philetairus. It is found in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. but their range is centred around Northern Cape Province and southern Namibia. They build large compound community nests, a rarity among birds. These nests are perhaps the most spectacular structure built by any bird.