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Birding/Strange smoke from LBJ

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Expert: Julia Booth - 8/31/2010


Question
For the past 4 evenings, there has been a pair of what I think are Carolina Wrens(?) that return to nest about dusk. Before getting into their nest, 1 of the birds emits a cloud of what looks like smoke, just like a draw from a cigarette, before leaving the bluberry bush it's in & then flies to it's nest. What is this "smoke"?

Answer
The closest approximation is something called smoke bathing. But that does not traditionally include inhalation or exhalation. The birds instead allow their feathers to absorb smoke, in order to rid themselves of parasites. Often the source of the smoke is a cigarette.

Here is a link to a site that explains smoke bathing.

http://birds.ecoport.org/Behaviour/EBanting.htm

Let me know if you need more help,


Julia

Birding

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Julia Booth

Expertise

I can answer questions about bird identification (by sight or sound), behavior, distribution, population, conservation, mating, nesting, fledging and feeding. I do have some practical knowledge about foreign species, but identification skills are limited in that arena. Bear in mind that as much as I know, it's possible that at least some of you will ask a question that I am unable to answer. At which point I would direct you to wherever or whomever I thought could provide you with that information.

Experience

I have 15 years birding experience in Southern California.

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Audubon Society

Education/Credentials
My education is in art and photography -but I have a substantial portfolio of nature related work.

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