As it Happened: The Family that bathes together…

Posted in Australian MagpieTagged

So many cliches that could be used as a title for this little series.

We’ve had well over a week of soaking rain. Fortunately not driving heavy rain so many of the nesting birds have been able to deal with it. But, of course some in early stages of hatching with downless young have succumbed.

After a week of sitting in wet trees, eating of the wet ground and flying through the downpours, you’d think your average magpie would be sick of water. But. No!

We ventured out to monitor a few of the nests locally, and managed a bit of a break in the weather with a spot of sunshine coming through. We found this small Magpie family making the most of the bathing facitilies offered in the puddles along the tracks.

Their young one didn’t seem all that keen, but Mum and Dad got right into the business and soaked it all up. I wonder if they were using the gravel to help clean out the underfeathers. They certainly stepped out of the puddle soaking wet. Both made several excursions into the water and then flew to a nearby tree for the shaking out and preening.

Junior had overcome its fears by then and stepped in to the water as well.

And it just goes to show the folk with birdbaths at home, that you should keep them clean no telling what might turn up if there is any muck in the water.

Enjoy.

Splashing Good Fun
Youngster watching apprehensively
Soaking to the Core
Is it safe?
Don’t Splash
Time to Join In
Stirring up the Water
Laying out the Wings

10 thoughts on “As it Happened: The Family that bathes together…”

  1. Hi there David… Another delightful series of photos thanks…! You must have heard me; this afternoon, I was wondering when your next Blog was coming…! Thanks for sharing your time with the Magpies…!
    Have a wonderful week… :-))
    Lance

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    1. Hi Lance, yes its been awhile.
      Mostly the weather has kept us at home, and the few trips we’ve made have been more recee’s than anything else.

      So it was a bit of a break to have some sunny weather, and delightful to watch these Maggies making the most of their opportunities.

      Lots of nestings going on, but I no longer feature them until the young have flown, there is always someone who thinks that birds on nest photography is to close an encounter.

      Hopefully the next weeks will begin to get us out and about again.

      Thanks for watching.

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  2. A fabulous series, David!
    Lovely to see the young one watching with apprehension at first and then joining in.
    Hopefully there will be more sunshine in coming days.

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  4. Love your series of Magpies puddle bathing David. They are such clean birds, always looking their immaculate best. However, after all that rain you would think they had enough drenching, but the process does refresh and remove lice and old feathers I guess, and may be a lot of pleasurable fun. Love that fluffy juvenile, so cute. Yes, it is another reminder of the value and pleasure we can have from birds bathing and drinking by simply adding the humble birdbath to our garden setting.

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