Australian Magpie "anting"or what?

[calyptorhynchus <>]

I’ve observed this behaviour over the years and there is usually a conspicuous lack of ants around. I suspect it is sunning.

John L

On Sat, 24 Oct 2020 at 08:45 <> wrote:

Interesting about the lack of ants!  I suspect that there is an honour’s or Master’s degree in this, if one could design a way of scientifically analysing the behaviour.

 

From: Birding-Aus <m("birding-aus.org","birding-aus-bounces");" target="_blank">> On Behalf Of Penny Brockman
Sent: Friday, 23 October 2020 1:53 PM
To: David Clark <m("gmail.com","meathead.clark5");" target="_blank">>
Cc: Charles Hunter via Birding-Aus <m("birding-aus.org","birding-aus");" target="_blank">>
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Australian Magpie "anting"or what?

 

I remember seeing two magpies in my garden lying on the woodchip path in full sun, wings extended and bodies awkwardly on one side. Bills open and heads tilted. After a while they got up, closed wings and moved into the shade, presumably to cool down. This I believe helps control lice. 

 

--------------------

Penny Brockman

 

 

On Thu, 22 Oct 2020, at 11:32 PM, David Clark wrote:

I have often seen Magpies lying flat out on the ground.  On the occasions when my approach caused the Magpie to depart, I have checked the location and never once have I seen ants.

 

The common factor with all instances I have observed is full and bright sunshine.

 

Cheers

 

David

 

On Wed, Oct 21, 2020 at 9:57 PM Penny Brockman <m("pennydb.org","penny");" target="_blank">> wrote:

 

Sunning?

 

--------------------

Penny Brockman

 

 

On Wed, 21 Oct 2020, at 5:28 PM, m("bigpond.com","marann671");" target="_blank"> wrote:

For years I’ve been watching magpies in Blackheath, regardless of the temperature, mild or red-hot, lying down in a sort of trance-like state. But they are alert. Someone somewhere mentioned that they are “anting”. Any published papers and evidence available on what they are actually doing?

 

Thanks

 

David Jackson

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--

John Leonard
Canberra
Australia
www.jleonard.net

‘There is kinship between people and all animals. Such is the Law.’ Kimberley lawmen (from Yorro Yorro)

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