In the last couple of weeks in completely different parts of Canberra, I’ve seen a Magpie standing on the ground in the sun, head stretched out and tilted to one side, beak open… motionless. The birds both looked petrified as in turned to stone, not afraid! Mesmerised by something perhaps? They were both very much alive and capable of flying away.
Does anyone have any idea what this behaviour may be?
Rob ======= Rob Geraghty the_harper@yahoo.com
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Last year a friend had a family of magpies in her garden. She described behaviour that I was hard pushed to say was consistent with either ‘anting’ or ‘sunbathing’ . On many days she reported seeing one or more lying on their sides or on their backs with their legs in the air. The wings were never outstretched. Her first concern was that they were sick, but when approached they just got up and walked away. All members of the family participated in the activity.
Judith
Judith Hoyle, Brisbane QLD 0437549301
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I almost ran over a Pied Butcherbird with the lawn mower yesterday. It was sunning on the edge of the garden bed where the wheel of the ride on should have passed. I stopped and the bird just looked at me, 1.5 metres eye to eye. If only moved when I put the mower back into gear and edged towards it.
Regards, Alan
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The Magpies were sun-bathing – why, I don’t know. Last week I photographed one in Heidelberg, which was lying on a bare steep patch of ground, as if quite dead, except it turned its head to check me when I pointed the camera at it. I shall put the photo up on the BOCA site.
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.
Anthea Fleming
on the ground in the sun, head stretched out and tilted to one side, beak open… motionless. The birds both looked petrified as in turned to stone, not afraid! Mesmerised by something perhaps? They were both very much alive and capable of flying away. href=”mailto:the_harper@yahoo.com”>the_harper@yahoo.com href=”mailto:birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au”>birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au ===============================
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