In PNG last week my colleague, American Biologist Michael Moore, and I
saw two Yellow-browed Melidectes (a species of honeyeater) picking
pieces of flower petals and wiping them over their feathers
particularly under their wings. After a quick wipe they dropped the
piece, picked another one and repeated the exercise. We weren't able to
identify the flower but it was a rainforest vine, the flowers were
pendulous, bell shaped and the petals fleshy and cream coloured. For
those that know the area it was at Ambua Lodge near cabins 2 and 3 on
the down hill side. It had been raining heavily and the petals were wet.
The birds appeared to be washing themselves but why these particular
flowers. Were they treating themselves against parasites? Has anyone
else seen similar behaviour by these birds?
Regards,
Barry Davies
Gondwana Guides
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
http://birding-aus.org
===============================
|
