2 November 2022

Birds preen to keep their feathers in tip-top condition, removing dirt and parasites, waterproofing their feathers with preen oil, and setting each feather in place. They have only one tool with which to do this.

Birds use their beaks to position feathers, interlock feather barbules that have become separated, clean their plumage, and keep ectoparasites in check.

— Wikipedia: Preening

To reach each feather their necks have to be flexible.

Yesterday Morela looked like a contortionist as she groomed for more than two hours in front of the Pitt peregrine nest. Here are the snapshots in a video.

The streaming camera is off for the season but you can see live snapshots at Cathedral of Learning Falconcam Snaphots.

(photos from the National Aviary snapshot camera at Univ of Pittsburgh peregrine nest)