Why do Birds Like to Perch Up High After a Bath?

[Jcas]

JJ just had a nice bath and is now hanging out on a rung of the top bunk bed in the bird room. I’ve noticed with all my birds over the years that they seem to like perching up high after they’ve had a bath. Any thoughts on why this is? My best guess is that they feel vulnerable with wet feathers knowing that they can’t fly well and a higher perch instinctively feels safer. Anyone else have ideas or have you noticed this post- bath behavior in your birds?

 

[LaManuka]

JJ just had a nice bath and is now hanging out on a rung of the top bunk bed in the bird room. I’ve noticed with all my birds over the years that they seem to like perching up high after they’ve had a bath. Any thoughts on why this is? My best guess is that they feel vulnerable with wet feathers knowing that they can’t fly well and a higher perch instinctively feels safer. Anyone else have ideas or have you noticed this post- bath behavior in your birds?

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Admittedly I haven't given much thought as to why they do it, but my guys all do it too. Lovejoy in particular gets himself SO soaked that he sometimes struggles to get the altitude but he goes for it anyway, and I think you're likely quite right that it's a safety thing. Like my sainted grandmother always used to say, "the one above sees all!"

 

[rheashard2]

Instinct for survival. Wet feathers mean loss of number one defense, escape by flying as fast and far as possible. Going up high limits this. So heights are not only safe but warm from the sun to dry feathers as they are preened. I don't know where I read that it was around 40+ years ago when I got my first CAG. It instructed to aid in bird security provide a warm safe place for preening after baths. If a crochet hook isn't in my hand I am a compulsive reader. I read just to read, I retain some of the weirdest things. Like this fact. I don't remember the books. They were written by tropical bird avian specialists. Back then there wasn't much CAG specific literature., In a couple of places by different experts I read CAG's have a high need for calcium. A bit of cheese weekly will help out. I didn't. Dogs, cats, people often develop lactose intolerance as when adults. So how could a species not dependent up anything lactose thrive on cheese. I never got around to finding out why. A few years later this was disproved. If you read there are still articles out there that recommend cheese for CAG'S. Sometimes it is a specific type like white. I lost an old article dated from some time in the 1800's, Found it at a garage sale or library bargain basement somewhere. It was discussing the inability to breed beautiful eclectus in captivity. Infertile or no eggs were the only results. Different techniques and suggestions were recommended to aid infertility. I originally planned to look for the time when realization hit the world they were sexually dimorphic. I still prowl library bargain basements.

 

[TiredOldMan]

Mine don't go high
They seem to like being lower after a bath. However that could be them reacting to my paranoia about them falling

 

[texsize]

Bella my CAG is closest to what you describe.
She doesn’t like getting wet but when she does she flaps around and splashes in her water dish back and forth a few times. When done she usually sits on top the bathroom door. Not the highest point in the house but gives her a good view of everything.

My amazon’s like getting wet and enjoying flapping around on top of there cage while I mist them. Afterwords the are happy to go back in the cage. It’s nice and warm with a cuddle up bird warmer.