These are three honeyeaters (White-plumed, New Holland and Wattlebird) that visited my birdbath on the 43 C day on Friday. At one point during the day my car reading for the outside air was 47C. The birds were very stressed and I ended up re-filling the birdbaths about five times, despite the blocks of ice. The water became boiling quite quickly. I really thought the young White-plumed (I had two visit) was going to literally drop off the branch. It was flagging badly and could barely stay perched.
All three birds have their beaks open, a form of panting to help regulate temperature. Birds don’t sweat and have very rapid respiration rates.
Opening their bills is one of the main ways they are able to dissipate the heat. I am quite obsessed with my backyard birds, even the introduced ones (the ones shown here are all natives) (As mentioned before, on many occasions the eye-roller has accused me of loving the birds more than her ).
Working from home all day on your own can get very lonely and watching the birds through my study window and hearing them chatter and interact give me a sense of the life around me and makes me feel less alone.
That and my Cocky George and budgie Alfie reminding me very loudly that they don't want to be left alone either.
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