Terry Pacey wrote:
> Laurie's note on White Ibis was timely as only last weekend I was able to
> observe for myself just how these birds have adapted to living with humans.
>
> At a swimming and picnic spot at Labrador on the Gold Coast in Queensland,
> an ibis was drinking by putting its beak (bill?) right into a dripping tap.
> It went in as far as the valve in the tap allowed. The ibis swallowed a
> few times, removed its beak and then started again. As the first bird left
> , another took its place. There were plenty of puddles of water around as
> there had been rain so this method was not required. Perhaps it is the
> only method some of the birds now use?
>
This interests me because it sounds similar to the way young ibis take food
from the parents. Do you suppose 'your' birds had an equivalent of a "nipple
fixation"? Any comments, Jim Davis? (At least its healthier than sticking a
cigarette in one's mouth!) :-)
Cheers
Anne
(And no apologies if this is too flippant for some to find on birding-aus. It
would be a dull list without occasional humour).
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