Strange Magpie behaviour

[Gemfyre <>]

Lately I've often observed magpies near a pale coloured wall of a nearby house.  They just stand there staring at the wall.  Initially it was just one magpie but I now see 3 there most mornings when I leave for work.  I thought they might have been listening for earthworms (I have seen them do this at my parents house, the worms they were getting from the lawn were big ones), but now it seems they may just be enjoying the morning sun - perhaps the light coloured wall reflects the light onto them too?

Belinda
Stirling W.A.
 

On Mon Nov 29  9:37 , Rob Geraghty <> sent:

<>
> --- On Mon, 11/29/10, brian fleming <m("labyrinth.net.au','','','')","top.opencompose('flambeau");">> 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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