IMPACT OF SUNLIGHT ON THE ORIENTATION OF BAYA WEAVERBIRD NESTS

The Baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus), renowned for its distinctive nest, is often called the king of nest-building birds. Its nest is easily recognizable due to its unique elongated, inverted bottle shape. Successful Reproduction for bayabirds requires them to have built goodnests. This paper explores the impact of light direction on the orientation of nests.The study, conducted from August 2019 to July 2020 in Shivamogga, gathered detailed nest data using the direct count method.A total of 455 nests were recorded across four zones during the breeding season: 233 complete, 167 incomplete, and 55 abnormal. The East direction averaged 15.16 ± 9.53 nests per zone, showing significant variability. The West direction averaged 2.5 ± 1.67 nests, reflecting lower nesting activity . Most nests are oriented toward the East and Northeast to capture the warmth of the sunrise, ensuring an ideal temperature for the eggs and chicks.