Lazy Sunny Afternoon

It was as I was closing my eyes to drift away on this lazy sunny afternoon, that I noticed a movement almost directly at my feet. Out of the deep shade of the garden hedge hopped our resident male Blackbird. He looked up at me with his warm brown eyes, decided I was harmless enough, then scurried open-beaked towards a patch of parched lawn; brown, straw like, lifeless.

Once satisfied he had found the ideal spot, he crouched down and spread his wings and tail out to their full extent, exposing as much surface area as possible to the rays of the 38C sun. Why was he doing this? It is most likely a two fold answer all to do with careful maintenance of the feathers. A birds feathers are very important, they provide insulation and the ability to fly. At certain times of year they also have an essential role to play in courtship. If feathers are not taken care of then none of these life saving, life giving functions can be accomplished. Birds spend a great deal of time preening, that is ensuring their feathers are clean and clear of parasites, free of kinks and imperfections, align neatly with one another and provide necessary waterproofing and insulating properties. So, the first reason for exposing as much surface area to the sun is to kill feather feeding parasites, or possibly force them to move away from their feasting zones which may allow the bird to remove them with its beak. Studies have shown that direct exposure of feathers to strong sunlight can raise temperatures sufficiently to kill lice outright. The second reason is to allow preen oil, secreted from a gland situated at the base of tail, to spread across the feathers more easily. Nothing happens in nature by accident.

Our Blackbird, the father of 3 successful broods this year, now spends his time skulking in the cool and shade of the hedge. There he is safe, can root around in the leaf litter for succulent worms, slugs and the like, can flutter up to pinch the ripening mahonia berries and is altogether anonymous. He needs to chill for a couple of weeks while he goes through his post-breeding moult, a phase applying to most birds at this time of year. Ensconced in the deep shade of the leaf litter he can shed and replace his feathers without having to worry too much about cats and rival males. He has everything he needs close to, and when the sun sears down he can get rid of those pesky itching lice.

I watched his performance with great interest. He would frequently change position, presumably to allow even exposure of his plumage, he would stop for a little while to preen and scratch before once more adopting the spread eagle posture. After a few minutes he would, as often as not, flit up to the bird bath for a drink, and occasionally a most vigorous bathe. Then he would contort himself in the water, spraying plumes all around, vigorously shaking his wings, body and hind quarters to ensure a thorough soaking. Satisfied with his dousing, he would then complete his toilet by smoothing out his feathers, before scuttling once more to the cover of the hedge.

Having nothing much else to do except melt on this lazy sunny afternoon, I spent a few hours waiting and watching, hoping to capture his behaviour with my camera. He seemed to go through the whole performance every 30 minutes or so, suddenly emerging from directly beside my chair to commence the show. More than once he sunbathed within 6 feet of where I sat, and always re-entered the hedge at the point he exited. Provision of an apple caused a slight diversion, he polishes off one every day.

This ordinary Blackbird has become a pal; trusting, comical and quite a pillar of garden life. He keeps a wary eye on me, but even if I move, or unwittingly appear when he is about his business, he doesn’t mind much. Maybe he will stand up, ready to fly if needed, but once I sit down, or just stand still he will resume his antics. He has provided a welcome and interesting distraction in these days of high summer when the heat makes every task, even sitting still, uncomfortable. Hope he stays around for a while.

For more observations on garden wildlife click here.