That’s interesting. Eastern
Spinebills are the only other honeyeater I get here on a
reasonably regular basis. I haven’t seen them diving, but then
maybe their bills are not the best shape for doing
gannet impressions ;) Come to think of it, I haven’t
seen them using the pond at all.
By the way, I meant ‘excitedly diving’, not ‘excitingly’
– it was the honeyeaters that appeared excited; I believe I was quite
calm and composed ;)
Regards
Frank
From: Philip Veerman
[
Sent: Tuesday, 8 August 2006 3:39
PM
To: Frank Antram;
Subject: [canberrabirds] Re:
Honeyeaters bathing
That:
"excitingly diving repeatedly
into ... ponds" seems to be a strangely honeyeater thing
to do. Many species of honeyeater do that (don't ask me for a list as I haven't
kept notes). I wonder if they all do that. It wouldn't surprise me if they all
do, even though few other passerines do that.
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 8:14 PM Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] First Yellow-faced Honeyeater
I, too, have had one or two around our Macquarie
garden for much of the winter, although there have certainly been some very
vocal and active ones in the last week or so. I had three excitingly
diving repeatedly into our pond last weekend. The only other species that
regularly dive into the pond is the Red Wattlebird – all other species,
that I’ve ever observed using the pond, wander around the edge looking
for a spot where they can take a drink or walk into the water for a bath.
Regards
Frank
