Pat,
Just had a look at my National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North
America trying to find a taxonomically comparable bird to the Common
Grackle. In an Australian context would you recommend Apostlebird or one of
the Catbirds for car washing?
Regards
Alastair
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Pat OMalley
Sent: Tuesday, 22 May 2007 11:06 AM
To:
Subject: Birding and car washing. An international
perspective.
I would like to contribute to the fascinating and significant issue of
birding while car washing. I have recently returned from some years in
Ottawa, Canada where car washing is most effectively prohibited through
the freezing of outdoor water assets for 6 months of the year. Perhaps
the government could be persuaded to introduce a similar measure here.
In spring, however, the return both of birds and liquid H2O to Ottawa
allows the combination of birding and car washing. I have found the
Common Grackle particularly important in this respect. Being a
moderately large bird, they provide conveniently sized car cleaners, and
the spring breeding plumage has excellent rubbing and absorbent
properties. Their robust bills may be used for resistant dirt such as
stubbornly attached insects. This provides nourishment for the birds
also. Being sociable birds, Grackles appear to enjoy the experience and
appreciate the symbiosis. The American Crow is also valuable in this
respect, although noisier, and Blue Jays provide a colourful
alternative. However, experience with the many species of Warbler that
pass through the Ottawa Valley about this time of the year has not
proven a success. In part it is thought that, being less omnivorous than
the species already mentioned, they benefit less from the bill
scrapings. (However, it has to be said that the smaller bills are less
likely to scratch the duco). Another school of thought - to which I
subscribe - suggests that the more robust bills of the other species
makes it unnecessary to rub as hard, thereby causing less wear and tear
on the plumage. Grackles certainly last longer. One Grackle can be used
for several washings, while my own study of Magnolia Warblers suggests
that as many as five are required to clean the average sized family car.
I would welcome advice, perhaps from the COG car cleaning survey, about
the feasibility of combining car washing and birding in Australia, if
and when drought conditions have ended.
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