Why Some Birds Eat Clay
By: NDTVNewsDesk
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Some birds eat clay to neutralise plant toxins and for essential mineral supplementation, particularly sodium.
Image: Pexels
This practice, called geophagy, is thought to help them deal with the potentially poisonous compounds in their diet.
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Eating clay also provides minerals like sodium that are scarce in their natural food sources.
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Clay particles can bind to or adsorb defensive toxins found in some of the plants and seeds that birds eat.
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This prevents the toxins from being absorbed into the birds' bloodstream and allows them to pass through the digestive system harmlessly.
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Clay licks also can contain significantly higher levels of sodium than what is available in the birds' plant-based diet.
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The consumption of clay in some birds also increases significantly during mating and breeding seasons.
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Birds seek out specific mineral-rich clay deposits, often found on river banks, to supplement their diet with necessary nutrients.
Image: Pexels
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