Hi Rob,
>Hi all! Just a quick question. On a recent field trip in WA, I noticed a
>yellow-rumped thornbill exhibiting very strange behaviour. When it flitted
>from branch to branch, it appeared to lose its balance and hang from the
>underside of each branch, rather than perching on top of the branch. It did
>this all the time I was watching it. Has anyone else observed this and does
>anyway know of an explanation for this? Perhaps its physiological eg.
>disease, parasites (Shane?)
Did the bird fall backwards or forwards to hang beneath the branch? Also,
did it move along the branch after hanging or did it seem to land, swing
and then hang for a short time before flying off? Where was the head
position when it was hanging? Was there a head-tilt to one side? Was the
tail used to balance? How far could it fly? Avian neurology is difficult
even when you have the bird to examine. Maybe, as Paul suggests, the bird
was exhibiting normal behaviour?
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Dr Shane Raidal BVSc PhD MACVSc
Lecturer in Veterinary Pathology
Department of Veterinary Biology and Biomedical Science
Murdoch University phone: +61 8 9360 2418
Perth,WA, 6150 fax: +61 8 9310 4144
Australia
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"Don't worry, they all eventually make it to the necropsy table"
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