I can’t explain the feather loss But I do believe this is an attempt to alleviate heat. In pushing away the sand on top they have access to cooler sand below. Hence the panting and laying for extended periods. Gotta wonder if you put more out there if they’d use it. The first bald spot looked like some kind of mite. And the rest may have a similar situation. And a dust bath would also help with this. As dust can even remove parasites, as the fine irritation can kill and suffocate them. It also keeps feathers fluffed by removing excess and stale lipids on the skin. Like how humans might use a pumice stone on skin. I will say this sand doesn’t quite look dusty enough, so maybe in that area it’s slim pickings for it. So maybe it’s just for the heat and not necessarily dust.
@@naturescarolers Aww yes, such a cute bird story. You are a loving bird watcher. I use to go bird watching with my bin-oglers but I didn't go in years. Before Covid. We don't see a wide wary of birds here in my area of Canada. The blue Jays are cute. I have a bird feeder in my back yard though. I admired the birds feeding in the morning and evening, like the pigeons, red Robbin and another small gray one. Not familiar with its name. Blessings to share many more bird videos with us my beautiful friend.😇💝
That’s NOT torpor. They SLOW breathing in Torpor. Those bird is overheated and attempting to get into Torpor (which is why it is on a feeder….its desperate). I hope it was okay :(
