A query about White-winged Choughs and soil

[Nathanael Coyne <>]

In Washington we observe ptarmigans dashing out of the cover of the shrubs, desperate to plop down in the middle of the track and have a good dust bath right in front of us before scurrying back across the other side.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/purecaffeine/21132457599/

Nathanael Coyne

www.purecaffeine.com

Canberra, Australia
0431 698 580

On 17 July 2016 at 21:37, Isobel Crawford <> wrote:

Robin,

this is an excellent description of W-w C dust bathing to me.

Isobel.


On 17/7/16 at 5:53 PM, (Robin Hide) wrote:

Do Ww Choughs use clay/soil for other purposes than making nests?
This afternoon amongst pines between the RC Golf Course and Warrina Inlet there was a large flock of Choughs, some of which appeared to be pecking at soil at the foot of a pine.
[cid:
They would then fluff up their feathers and appeared to be applying soil to them.
[cid:
The soil where they had been pecking.
[cid:
I saw similar behaviour late one evening (full  dusk) beside pine trees in urban Challis Street in Dickson about 6-8 weeks ago- though there they just appeared to be pecking at the ground.
Puzzled!
Robin Hide

Ms Isobel Crawford,
Australian Botanical Surveys,
POB 6031,
O'Connor  ACT  2602.

02 6257 1860

0429 798 887.


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