Sitka, a Bald Eagle and Raptor-in-Residence here at the Alaska Raptor Center, showing off her preening skills! Preening is a bird's way of grooming its feathers to keep them in the best condition. While preening, birds remove dust, dirt, and parasites from their feathers and align each feather into the perfect position! Most birds will preen several times a day to keep themselves healthy. | Alaska Raptor Center

To us, bathing in dust might seem an odd choice – but it’s the best way for an ostrich to get clean! Ostriches routinely dust/sand bathe by rubbing these fine particles into their feathers. To do this they get low to the ground, flapping and ruffling their feathers to ensure the sand reaches their skin. This practise forms part of their preening and plumage maintenance that helps to remove dry skin and unwanted oils, as well as minimise the presence of lice, mites and other parasites. Our keeper

Birds preen by using their beaks to clean, smooth, and align their feathers, a vital grooming behavior for insulation, waterproofing, flight, and parasite removal, involving oil from the tail gland and interlocking feather barbs to keep plumage in top condition for survival, often for hours daily. | Get Wild

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