It was a new experience when photographer Choo Teik Ju came across a Rufous-tailed Tailorbird (Orthotomus sericeus) taking a leaf bath in May 2009. It was early morning and the bird was taking in the dew from the fronds of ferns – the dissected fronds of the resam (Glichenia sp.). This is possible as the fronds of this fern develop close together to form a thick mass. The bird was literally jumping up and down the thicket of fern to soak in the droplets of dew.
Usually birds would leaf-bathe on larger leaves… like simpoh air (Dillenia suffruticosa).
“First time seeing bird taking bath in early morning on fern leaf. I was trying to capture this bird earlier but was not successful, eventually, it appeared on fern leaf for bath. Simpoh Air leaf can be popular amongst small birds for bathing, but fern leaf can do this job as well… or any wet leaf can provide this service to birds, just my observation…”
Images by Choo Teik Ju.
This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.
