A Noisy Miner bathes in a muddy puddle
A Noisy Minder emerging from a muddy puddle after a bath
Canon EOS R1 with a Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM Zoom [ISO 3200, 500mm, f/9.0 and 1/2500])
One late afternoon at the end of October I had an hour to wait near the National Museum of Australia so I decided to take my camera with me. I was taking photos by the shore of Lake Burley Griffin when I noticed two Noisy Miners (Manorina melanocephala) bathing in a muddy puddle in the gravel path. Unfortunately, a passing walker inadvertently spooked them and they flew off to a nearby tree. So I crouched down and waited, hoping that they would return. Indeed, after a few minutes, one of the miners flew from the branch directly towards the puddle. It barely paused in mid-air before plunging straight in. Its head was out of the water but its body was submerged. It performed a few vigorous shakes in the water before it launched itself up and out of the puddle, in an explosion of drops. The water didn’t impede its flight, and it returned swiftly back to the branch. I had a bit of a laugh to myself. The puddle was just a few metres from the shallow shore of Lake Burley Griffin, yet these miners preferred a muddy puddle to the waters of Lake Burley Griffin. Not a strong vote of confidence in the poor lake. Because birds need to maintain their feathers for flight and temperature regulation they will preen and clean them daily, including taking regular baths. In really hot weather, because birds don’t sweat, bathing is also a way to help them stay cool. As we approach the warmer months in Australia, if you have a bird bath, remember to keep it topped up with clean water for birds to drink at and bathe with. Clean it regularly and enjoy the show that the visiting birds will provide.
The Noisy Miner a moment before its plunge
Canon EOS R1 with a Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM Zoom [ISO 3200, 500mm, f/9.0 and 1/2500])
