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That
is really interesting. Sure it is a parrot thing. Has this been described
before? Actually it probably happens so fast that we would not normally notice
it, until cameras can show it. What is really interesting about this (as a
sometimes bird illustrator) is that birds are almost never drawn in books in
postures anything like this. Why is that? I can only suggest that I think if I
had tired to draw that, it would seem so contrived that it wouldn't work. Not
even William Cooper in his great drawings in Forshaw's books give anything like
the impression of Geoff's pictures here. Can anyone find painted images of birds
in books in postures as acrobatic as these (maybe apart from
Audubon).
Philip
Not much of a day for outdoor birdwatching, so another look
at the Swift Parrots of yesterday. One of the interesting things about
these little birds is their gymnastic ability. They seem to be able to
adapt to any foliage configuration to get at a feed. In the below
composition I have marked with violet arrows the feet positions of 4 feeding
birds.
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