On the Wildside with Ian Rotherham: Mute Swan taking a shower

How animals, including birds, behave is endlessly fascinating. Some activities are rather mundane, and others unusual.

placeholder image — Mute Swan taking a shower | Ian Rotherham

Behaviour may be learnt by experiment or copied from other individuals, with some examples instinctive, but it is not always absolutely clear which is which. Moreover, apparently trivial bits of behaviour may be important in survival through acquisition and honing of important real-life skills.

This is one way of explaining how young animals in particular “play” maybe with each other or even with an inanimate toy. Kittens will play-fight with their siblings or with a favourite toy and this seems to us to be charming and amusing, whereas in fact for a wildcat, it is vital for developing life-skills to help ensure survival in a rough-tough world. Especially for long-lived predators, the acquisition of such skills takes time and practice, frequently with a long period of parental care and support. Juvenile birds and mammals have to learn how to survive and cope once parental support is withdrawn and passed to the next brood. So being inquisitive and “playing” is essential to independent living. Young otters wrestle and play as part of their training for life, and yes, they seem to enjoy it too, but these are vital skills for survival. Indeed, when you observe such behaviours which seem to provide fun and pleasure as well as sharpening skills, the benefits are usually quite clear.

A jay will deliberately stir up an ants’ nest to stimulate the enraged insects to squirt formic acid onto its skin and feathers, with a clear benefit of controlling annoying feather-parasites. However, when you see this happening, it also appears that the bird is actually enjoying the (presumably) tingling sensation, and this raises a question of whether birds and mammals can have “fun” for the sake of it.

I recently watched an adult mute swan apparently showering in a downfall from the lake at Newstead Abbey. Facing towards the waterfall, the bird kept repeatedly swimming into the water and appeared to relish the experience. I can’t see any benefit gained so was this just “fun”?

Professor Ian D. Rotherham, researcher, writer & broadcaster on wildlife & environmental issues, is contactable on [email protected] ; follow Ian’s blog (https://ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/ ) and Twitter @IanThewildside; BlueSky @ianthewildside.bsky.social