June 19, 2023—
Why is a duck rolling in the dirt under the catalpa tree!?
Rachel and I ran at Cobb’s Hill during her lunch hour, and when I barreled down the gravel hill toward the tennis courts, I saw that red head. A big, pileated woodpecker bathed in the fine sand. Perfect. Perfect for baths.
From Mike O’Connor in wickedlocal:
“Woodpeckers have also been known to take dust baths. It’s seems like a major contradiction for birds to clean themselves by rolling around in dirt, but they do it. Experts aren’t sure what the birds gain from fluffing in filth, but their best guess is that it has something to do with parasite control. It is thought that the fine dust blocks the parasites’ breathing holes, which forces them to drop off the bird. Hmm. I’m going to have to try that. I’ll let you know how it works.”
Also:
“When a flock of starlings hit a birdbath, water splashes everywhere, looking like a blender with the cover off.”
Photo: Where I sit