--- On Mon, 11/29/10, brian fleming <> wrote:
> The Magpies were sun-bathing - why, I don't know.
> I have also seen Blackbirds and Starlings do this with
> wings spread out and beaks gaping. In all cases they seemed
> in a strange state, as if hypnotized or unconscious, but
> were in fact perfectly capable of moving if approached.
Maybe it's a form of bird Zen meditation? :) Evidently sun bathing, along with
washing and dusting themselves, helps with controlling parasites. At least in
Canberra, we've had an unusual amount of rain this year (about 170% of the
average), so it's possible that the birds are suffering a lot more from
parasites than during the drought.
Or maybe standing immobile in the sun is just enjoyable? I know a lot of
humans who enjoy sunbathing too.
I'm surprised I've never seen this behaviour before!
Rob
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