birding-aus

RFI: Gerygones, thornbills etc. drinking

To: <>
Subject: RFI: Gerygones, thornbills etc. drinking
From: "simon starr" <>
Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 23:38:08 +1100
I'm fascinated by this topic, how so many Aussie birds manage to get by in the heat of summer without drinking. But I haven't been able to find much info on birds drinking requirements. Hanzab has detailed sections on feeding for each species but drinking behaviour is hardly mentioned. Perhaps there has been very little study of birds water requirements, which seems strange when it must play a major role in their lives and movements. I've spent a number of very hot afternoons recently at a dam in the central Victorian mallee , and have seen Weebills come down a few times, as have Spotted Pardalotes, Grey Shrike-Thrush (once), Collared Sparrowhawk !?, aswell as the constant flow of Honeyeaters and Bronzewings as you would expect.

Yellow, Inland and Chestnut-rumped Thornbills, Shy Heathwrens, Fairy-wrens and others are fairly common in the surrounding bush but I've yet to observe them drinking even when its in the high 30's.

I'd love to know of any literature on the subject.

Cheers,
Simon Starr.

A query please- whilst researching the Acanthizids (gerygones,
thornbills, whitefaces, Pilotbird, Origma, Heathwrens, Fieldwrens
etc) I have been struck by the lack of references to any of them
drinking ( and please no jokes about having to reach 18 years, some
thornbills nearly do!). I can only find a ref to White-browed
Scrubwrens drinking from water troughs, and that is about it.
Do i have a blind spot and perhaps I'm overlooking things?
When I think about it I can't recall ever seeing any of the family
drinking,  maybe they get enough moisture from their diet?
Any responses appreciated, and  i must thank those who replied to me
about an earlier RFI about bristlebirds, very helpful.
You can reply to me direct, or i will see any responses when i look
at the archive.
Thanks in anticipation.
Phil Gregory
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