Dominic Cram, with supervisor Dr Andy Young at the University of Exeter, UK, are studying the cooperative behaviour of White-browed Sparrow-weavers at Tswalu in the Northern Cape, South Africa. The social life of these weavers in 30 colonies is helping biologists work out whether a life of leisure slows down the ageing process. Read the story in a series of 8 photos on the New Scientist web.

70 colonies of White-browed Sparrow-weavers have already been submitted to PHOWN, with colonies form the Eastern Cape right up to Ethiopia.

Photo: White-browed Sparrow Weaver colony in Deneysville