Recycling

 The purple rumped sunbirds had built a nest in my balcony where an egg was laid that hatched and the hatchling became a fledgling and one fine day flew off under the watchful eye of its parents. Since then they abandoned the nest till a few days back when the female (possibly the same one that was born here) returned and started picking out the choicest pieces of the nest to re use in its new nest elsewhere! Nature never fails to surprise and inspire.

Moved in

 After a week of intense activity, the purple rumped sunbird finished building its nest and moved in. I had a ringside view of the proceedings as it is in our balcony.

The nest is made up of fine plant fibres, cobwebs and is studded on the exterior with lichens, bark pieces, flying seeds and other materials. The nest is constructed by the female alone although the male may fly alongside her. The female stays in the nest at night a couple of day before laying the eggs. The eggs are incubated by both the male and female.