Preening is a bird maintenance behaviour that involves using the beak to
position feathers, interlock the barbules, clean plumage, and reduce
parasites. Feathers contribute to a bird's insulation, waterproofing and
flight, so birds spend much time on preening. They may fluff up their
feathers to "rezip" the barbules, and use their beaks to gather preen
oil from a gland at the base of their tail. They spread the oil by
drawing each contour feather through their bills. Ritualised preening
has become part of some courtship displays and a displacement activity
when birds are subjected to stress. Preening can be a social activity
involving two or more birds called "allopreening", which occurs either
between a mated pair or flock members in a social species. This may
assist in grooming, the recognition of individuals, or reducing
conflict. Most allopreening is confined to the head and neck. Ingestion
of pollutants or pathogens during preening can lead to health problems.
Injury and infection can cause overpreening in caged birds.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preening>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1842:
A train derailed and caught fire (depicted) near Versailles,
France, killing between 52 and 200 people.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Versailles_rail_accident>
1957:
South Vietnamese president Ngô Đình Diệm began a state
visit to the United States, his regime's main sponsor.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngo_Dinh_Diem_presidential_visit_to_the_United_States>
1972:
Four members of Black September hijacked Sabena Flight 571 to
demand the release of 315 convicted Palestinian terrorists.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabena_Flight_571>
1987:
A British Special Air Service unit ambushed a Provisional Irish
Republican Army (IRA) unit in Loughgall, Northern Ireland, killing eight
IRA members and one civilian.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loughgall_ambush>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
megapolitan:
Of or pertaining to a megapolis (“a very large city or urban complex”).
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/megapolitan>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Why should things be easy to understand?
--Thomas Pynchon
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Thomas_Pynchon>
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