While birds often sunbathe for practical reasons of warmth and dryness, a growing body of research now points to one largely understudied purpose: to rid themselves of pesky parasites living on their skin and feathers. The heat and UV radiation from sunlight can act as a non-chemical pesticide.
According to Audubon, birds devote about 9 percent of their time to maintenance behaviors. They use their bills to pick dirt and other impurities out of their feathers, and as weapons to hunt for unwanted hitchhikers—parasites, such as feather lice. Feather lice are so skilled at hiding amid a bird's feathers that they can be hard to remove by preening alone. The presence of lice isn't just a hygiene issue—it can make it harder for birds to find mates, possibly due to duller plumage or the need for more frequent preening.
Happy birding!
J.J.
No comments:
Post a Comment