Larry's Gallery:   Noisy Miner (6/7)

PASSERIFORMES: Meliphagidae

Manorina melanocephala  

I know this looks like the aftermath of a tragic mid-air collision but these birds flew down separately and purposefully laid in these positions like some macabre re-enactment of just such an event.

I must admit to not knowing what the purpose of this behaviour is.

Some people suggest that it is related to temperature control and that the birds are warming or conversely cooling themselves. I don't hold with this idea as this photo was taken in the middle of a warm day and there was no need to warm in this way and nor does it make sense to cool off in full hot sunlight.

Others suggest it is to assist with the control of lice, mites etc. as birds are known to have 'dust baths' for this reason. I lean towards this explanation myself but in this instance the ground though very dry wasn't dusty and the birds did not try to stir up dust but simply laid down in these odd positions without moving for upwards of thirty seconds. They did this a few times when the coast was clear from our pet dogs.

If anyone else has a different theory please drop me a line.