Those around at the time might recall the influx of more than 30 SPs at the water tank at Hackett in 2005, with a reappearance in 2009. Those birds appeared to be attracted by the presence of water, even though they only spent a short time each day bathing or drinking.
A reminder:
Yesterday I noticed that some SPs in the preening tree showed signs of recent bathing. This morning I was with Steve and Lynton when 2 SPs were in or in the vicinity of the preening tree for about 40 minutes. I then set off to find a water source that I reckoned would be within a few hundred metres. However all the creeklets were dry. I then returned to the preening tree where rosellas had been noticed bathing in the shallow standing water in the drain behind the levee that runs along the back fences. During about an hour of watching I noticed that 2 SPs (probably the 2 seen earlier) showed signs of being eager to drink or bathe. They repeatedly flew across the drain between the preening tree and a smaller one on the levee. Eventually both birds flew down to a sapling less than 1m from the ground. Then they joined the rosellas for a quick bathe. It looks as if the levee water is the relevant water source, and quite likely the current attractor.
Pre-bathing behaviour:
-----Original Message-----
From: Lindsay & Diana [
Sent: Monday, 18 May 2015 9:34 AM
To: 'COG Mailing List'
Subject: [canberrabirds] Swift Parrots in Ainslie
Eleven birds this morning from 6.45 am alternating between the feeding tree, the preening tree and somewhere north east. Almost as many observers as birds.
At one point the feeding tree had the Swifties, Crimson and Eastern Rosellas, King Parrots, Gang Gangs, Miners, and Wattle Birds.
Lindsay Nothrop
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