birding-aus

RFI: Gerygones, thornbills etc. drinking

To: "Wendy" <>
Subject: RFI: Gerygones, thornbills etc. drinking
From: David Stowe <>
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2007 08:53:39 +1100
Last year at Laura Roadhouse (Cape York) while we were watching a Black-backed Butcherbird and Little Friarbirds drinking at a bird bath, we heard a loud racket from Rainbow Lorikeets a bit further away. We went to investigate and found 10-20 Lorikeets sitting on a fence where an irrigation hose had sprung a leak around a fitting. It was spraying jets of water in a number of directions and the Lorikeets were fighting for position, hanging upside down and generally very keen to get a spot in the water. They were bathing but also most definitely drinking - putting their "mouths " in the jet of water like a kid at a bubbler.
Made for a great photo!
Sorry Phil - that didn't really help you with Thornbills! I did see White-browed Scrubwren come to a bird bath in Berry (Sth Coast NSW) one summer but i think it was more to bathe than drink.

Cheers
Dave Stowe

On 05/03/2007, at 12:05 AM, Wendy wrote:

I've not read any references on this but it was something I was thinking
about too, before Phil's question.
We have a large local Rainbow Lorikeets population. I have observed them in the past 'bathing' in the foliage of my eucs. Melbourne continues to be very
dry. While the forecasts may often say showers these seem to be VERY
localised.
The other day one of these showers fell in my area.
I was attracted to the din out the front. A huge mob of Rainbow Lorikeets were VERY noisily drinking? and bathing in my eucs and then moving tree by tree (Street trees are predominatly Brush Box/Lophostemon conferus) down the
street.
I don't recall ever seeing Rainbows drinking at pools, dishes etc.
Wendy




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