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Birding/Wild ducks "bathing"
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Question
Why do wild ducks, who swim and dive all day long, take "baths" as part of their preening process?
They swim and dive all day but their top layer of feathers keep them waterproof. But under that layer of feathers there are more feathers and of course skin that needs to be cleaned. So when they take a bath they lift up that top layer of waterproof feathers to get at the other feathers and skin underneath.
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Answers by Expert:
Roger Lederer
Expertise
Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.
Experience
Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.
Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico
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