This photo of an African Masked Weaver was taken on the first day of my first safari in 2016. This small bird, measuring 4 - 6 inches, is common throughout southern Africa. This weaver is a breeding male that can be identified as such due to its black face, throat and beak, red eye and bright yellow head and body. The males are responsible for building the nests as this one is doing. The nest takes about 10 - 14 hours to build and is only used once. A typical weaver builds about 25 nests over a five-month long breeding season. Once each nest is completed, the male will defend his small territory around his nests, attracting female attention to his nests. If accepted by the female, he will add a short entrance tunnel, while the female lines the interior with soft grass heads and feathers and, before you know it, eggs are laid. Then onto building the next nest for a different female.