A fairly common behaviour in a whole range of birds, notably magpies,
choughs, pigeons, chickens, quail. Whether it is the same thing in all bird
species or even in all individuals of one species or even each time in one
individual, is hard to know or indeed anyone's guess. Presumably best called
sunning, in some birds it is combined with anting (as in putting ants on
their feathers).
Philip
-----Original Message-----From: Paul T.
Sent: Tuesday, 13 March 2012 3:27 PM
To: Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] To the
Bot Gardens
At 01:30 PM 13/03/2012, you wrote:
>Perhaps the most notable tick at the ANBG this morning was a PRONE
>SPINEBILL. This chap was lying within a half metre of a path in the
>Sydney Gully, motionless except for a slow lean to one side to bring
>the red eye to bear. It allowed an approach to less than 1m. before
>a flick of the wings and off, absolutely nothing wrong with
>him. Perhaps a combination of sun, habituation to passers-by, and
>the soporific effect of a big feed on nectar. Also, in the insect
>department, what I take from Michael Braby's little book to be a
>Glasswing or "Little Greasy" and one of a couple of hairstreaks
>hanging around the site of that spectacular colony of last year.
>That gathering was last February, so the main colony either
>relocated or had a break this year.
Geoffrey et al,
When I was working at the ANBG a few years ago I observed a spinebill
doing a similar thing. It was in the Sydney Gully, lying in a patch
of sunshine about 45cm across (the sunshine, not the bird! <grin>),
literally lying in the middle of the path. I'd assumed it was
sunbaking? I don't recall how close I got, but I know I was amazed
at how trusting it was. It too was watching me intently. I don't
know whether it is one bird, or they just are trusting there because
there is so much cover about?
Cheers.
Paul T.
Higgins, ACT.
*******************************************************************************************************
This is the email announcement and discussion list of the Canberra
Ornithologists Group.
Please ensure that emails posted to the list are less than 100 kb in size.
When subscribing or unsubscribing, please insert the word 'Subscribe' or
'Unsubscribe', as applicable, in the email's subject line.
List-Post: <>
List-Help: <>
List-Unsubscribe: <>
List-Subscribe: <>
List archive: <http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/canberrabirds>
List manager: David McDonald, email
<>
|
