My Arrival in Africa and New Neighbors

After a 15 hour flight from JFK to Johannesburg I have finally arrived at my new home, Pretoria. Though I've been here before, I am still amazed by the diversity of people, cultures, and languages that flood South Africa's cities. 

Not long after arriving at my flat, a local Souther Masked Weaver-bird decided to begin construction on a new home.  His space of choice for his new residence is the acacia tree just outside my bedroom window.  Flying back and forth from the field of long grass adjacent to our complex, he chooses only the straightest blades for his project.  Perched at the tip of a branch, he meticulously knots an anchor from which he will weave his house. 

  In less than 20 minutes, stopping only for the incoming rainstorm, he has this masterpiece to show for his labor.

It is incredible to watch this feathered craftsman bind, loop, and weave blades of grass with perfect precision and utilizing only his beak. 

The storm is getting closer now as the wind forces the artist to stop.  Unable to weave, he begins to peck at the small clusters of leaves on the acacia tree. Removing all the vegetation has left the branches surround his nest barren with only thorns.  I can only speculate that his tactic removes any chance of giraffes or over large herbivores from chomping down his nest by accident.  

 Upon stopping for weather my avian friend perches a branch away, inspects his work, and flies off.  Hopefully he will return tomorrow to finish.  

Though I have only been here for a day and my apartment is in the heart of one of South Africa's largest cities, this place is still very much WILD.  The calls of wild parrots, ibis, and guinea fowl hidden amongst the tropical facade of plants that coat these streets will hopefully make for some pleasant ambiance tonight as I sleep off my jetlag.