birding-aus

Skylarks on wires

To: Philip Veerman <>
Subject: Skylarks on wires
From: Tony Ashton <>
Date: Sun, 10 Feb 2019 11:25:11 +1000
My understanding - on limited reading - is that the long rear claw assists stability for ground-foraging birds such as larks and pipits.

Tony

On Sun, Feb 10, 2019 at 10:09 AM Philip Veerman <> wrote:

Bypassing the pelican issue. The answer to questions of the type of Geoffrey’s skylark problem, why, is usually “because their parents do”. However in this case, I reckon it is to prove that they don’t walk backwards. (Something often said of emus and kangaroos).

 

Philip

 

From: Geoffrey Dabb [
Sent: Sunday, 10 February, 2019 9:46 AM
To: 'Chris Gregory'; 'Philip Veerman'
Cc: 'birding-aus'
Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Skylarks on wires

 

It’s probably my fault for reviving the subject.  Like Peter I couldn’t find the photo at the time.  I came across one later while looking for a photo of a Skylark in colourful swamp-marsh growth, for a talk.  Werribee is a good place for Skylarks, perhaps the Australian headquarters.  I do also have a photo of a Skylark on a post.  Also on barbed wire showing its remarkably long hind-claws. So far as I can find in the books, the purpose of these is unknown. Perhaps someone on this list will know.

 

Geoffrey

 

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