Shane said
"I think I can remember reading in past issues of the EMU of parrots or
cockatoos chewing at burnt wood / charcoal. They don't need to for normal
digestion and maybe such activity is associated with foraging for insect larvae
or
green shoots. Birds (even most graniverous ones) don't need to ingest dirt or
pebbles for normal digestion. "
I have observed Galahs and Long-billed Corellas apparently picking up grit from
road surfaces on many occasions. Inspection of the road has not indicated any
potential food such as fallen grain. Analysis of the gizzard contents of over
300
Long-billed Corellas showed that, in almost all if not all cases, there was
grit
present. Grit was mostly quartz pebbles 2-4 mm diameter. This suggests that
ingestion of grit is a normal, if not required, item for digestion of grain in
these
birds.
Cheers
Ian
=======================================
Ian Temby
Wildlife Damage Control Officer
Secretary, BIRDS Australia Parrot Association
Flora and Fauna Branch
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
4/250 Victoria Parade
EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002
AUSTRALIA
Phone 613 9412 4429
Fax 613 9412 4586
E-mail
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