Steady Drip from a Pied Oystercatchers bill.
Has anyone observed the following?
Some days ago a friend and I noticed water dripping very steadily
from a Pied Oystercatchers bill. A pair was roosting on the roof of
a boat shed about 30 meters from where we parked. One bird had its
bill tucked under its wing. Water was dripping very steadily from
the other bird for at least 2 minutes whilst we were watching it.
Once it shook its head and a stream of water was flicked across the
boat shed roof. The other bird finally brought its head forward and
it too was dripping but not so steadily. They then walked over to
the other side of the roof and were out of sight. The tide was just
about high and I presume they had just finished feeding
Occasionally friends who have spent time watching PO’s have noticed
an odd drop but never a steady drip from the salt gland.
A brief search of the Australian literature has no recorded of a
steady drip.
Priscila Park. Tasmania.
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