RFI: Gerygones, thornbills etc. drinking

[David Stowe <>]

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