On Throw Back Thursday (TBT):
Seven years ago a budgerigar frequented my backyard bird feeder with a flock of juvenile house sparrows. I could tell she wouldn’t last long in the wild because she was not wise about predators. One of my blog readers offered to adopt the budgie if I could catch her, so I put a bird cage in the backyard and waited to see if she would go inside.
She did. And I learned a valuable lesson about freedom which is with me to this day. Click here for A Lesson Learned.
(photo by Kate St. John)
I read about the blue budgie that would come to visit you and hope my budgie who escaped recently can have some fun too while he is out. Have you seen the blue budgie at all since yr last post about it?
Susan, after I released the budgie (back in May 2009 ) I saw her in the area for about two weeks. Here’s a link to my updates about her status (and other comments): http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2009/05/25/a-lesson-learned/#comment-7414
What a beautiful lesson. Thank you for sharing it again Kate.
A rainy day spent hiking outdoors is always better then a sunny day indoors.
Hello Kate,
Unrelated to Budgies, I witnessed some backyard behavior that I thought you might be interested in. I’ve been a casual follower to your site this year as I have become entranced by springtime nest cams (I have watched the Peregrines at the Rhodes Tower in Columbus Ohio working to raise their four offspring, the DC Eagle cam, and the Cathedral of Learning, with all its wild drama). As a former Park Ranger and dedicated birder, I am always interested in learning more, and I am wondering if you have any insight about the following behavior:
After our yard was mowed, an adult Gray Catbird landed on a giant anthill and spread its feathers, pressing various parts of its body to the angry mound. The ants were understandably pissed off that their home had just been disturbed, and so crawled all over the bird. I read today that Catbirds eat ants, but this behavior reminded me of predatory fish int he ocean that allow smaller fish to clean their mouths/bodies of parasites.
My question is: Are Catbirds known to use ants to clean parasites from within their feathers? This bird was very visibly preening as it spread its tail, wings, and rump on the ground. Or, is the bird using its body to get ants to come out of the safety of their anthill in order to get a bigger meal payoff?
~Best,
Kelly
Kelly, your comparison to predatory fish is right on. Catbirds do engage in anting to clean themselves. Here’s more information: http://georgiawildlife.com/node/3072
Actually, I found another account of this same behavior, with the same speculation:
http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/content/blane-klemek-column-gray-catbird-secretive-mimic
I suppose the birds might also just enjoy the feeling of tiny little ant-feet!