Colin,
A good suggestion, but the birds I was watching appeared to swallow
whatever it was they picked up. I certainly didn't see them rubbing
it onto themselves. However that's not to say they don't do it at
other times.
Cheers
Carol
At 2:53 PM +1000 15/6/04, Colin Driscoll wrote:
Carol, I wonder if the Quail Thrush were using ants as insecticide (for
lice). I've seen Noisy Miners picking up ants and rubbing them under their
wings and on their backs as a form of insecticide- the formic acid or
similar I guess- that ants exude when agitated. We think we're smart with
our inseticide spays and the birds have been doing it for many thousands of
years. I've also seen the Superb Fairy-wren doing the same thing with meat
ants- darting onto the mound and grabbing one.
Cheers
Colin
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