birding-aus
Thank you Danny (and David) for your most helpful reply. I trust that
others with an interest in my RFI [Request For Information] will see
this message.
Anne
Danny Rogers wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> This sounds like a louse-fly, family Hippoboscidae. They are a family of
> specialised dipterans, flat leathery blood-sucking things which live among
> the hair of a few mammals, the feathers of many birds, and the clothing of
> many bird-banders. For a splendid chapter of bed-time reading about bird
> ectoparasites, it is worth keeping an eye out 'Fleas, flukes and cuckoos' by
> Miriam Rothschild and Theresa Clay - published in 1952 and long out of
> print, but cheap copies turn up in second-hand bookshops from time to time.
>
> Danny Rogers
>
> At 05:56 PM 30/01/99 +1030, Atriplex Services wrote:
> >birding-aus
> >
> >Hello all.
> >This is an RFI re a flying insect(?) that I've seen emerging from and
> >disappearing under the feathers of a semi-wild Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
> >that visits us for a free feed. Its about the size of a "bush fly" but
> >is gives the impression of being somewhat flattened, dorsi-ventrally.
> >It's very quick and only stays visible for a matter of seconds but
> >definitely flies from one part of the bird to another. It definitely
> >annoys the cockie sometimes but is it a parasite (if so what) or simply
> >sheltering and possibly feeding on feather dust etc?
> >Thanks in advance for any helpful comments from the "experts"!
> >Regards, Anne
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