slow learner (1 Viewer)

[mauricek]

A nature lover for over seven decades who has learned mostly from observation,curiosity and logic,I started wondering how hatchling chicks got a drink.I gradually realised that insects not only provided nutrition but liquid tooand this would also account for seed eaters regurgitating food for the young ones so they don't dehydrate.
Iknow about desert pigeons,or is it grouse, carrying water in their breast feathers but why have I never thought of our own native and visitors before?Should I have known this already???

maurice. never too old to learn!!!

 

[palval147]

You made me think about it as well, Maurice, yes, it must be that there is enough liquid in the juicy caterpillars & other insects that adult birds feed to their young, but what about birds of prey? Do their chicks get enough moisture from the meat scraps they are fed?

 

[bill moss]

Hi Maurice,

Yes, this is the reason why you have to be careful what food you put out for parent birds in the breeding season; whatever it is must contain the moisture. A good 'no' example is dried fruit (sultanas, raisins etc) without first rehydrating them. Ditto, dried mealworms.

Val, undried meat contains plenty of moisture, the problem might be with dried out carrion, more in tropical countries I would have thought. Do raptors in hot climates take only 'fresh' carrion?

Bill

 

[Chris-Leeds]

It's always good to learn something Maurice whether you think you should know it already or not. Life would be boring if we knew everything.

 

[brianfm]

Always something to learn marra.

Sandgrouse is an interesting one you mention Maurice. I knew about the carrying of water in the breast feathers, but only learnt recently during my feather research that their feathers are especially adapted for the task of soaking up water. It all gets very technical. The wonders of evolution eh?:t:

 

[Bea]

I'm pleased you started this thread Maurice, I've

learned something new from your, and others',

comments.

 

[Wendy Morris]

Over the last few years, I've learned a lot from people's posts on here. All filed away, hopefully somewhere that I can find them at a later date! That was certainly something that I had not thought about, but I do always soak the sultanas overnight, all through the year.

 

[mauricek]

Hello Bill
Dry food eh.This raises more questions.
With families to feed,including mum,both 2& 4 legged carrion will mostly be spotted before it hits the deck.If it's not spotted immediately,bearing in mind that if it has a choice.it will seek shade or cover and dry and deteriorate slowly
Maybe we should consider the possibility of separate diets for parents and kids.
The parents can eat the rough stuff and find more digestable food for the chicks.Maybe large insects even.Kestrels feed a lot of grasshoppers to the young and teach them how to catch them.
Mum can have can have a pie and a pint if she wants but she'll have to find something from somewhere for the bairns.
It makes yer think dunnit?

maurice