The birds are so smart that we have learned at least one serious skill from them. “Dusting” at first looks like something young ones might do during play. Sparrows find a patch of dirt and proceed to loosen the soil so that they can roll and rub their feathers in it. It looks like playing in the bathtub. In fact they are working hard to distribute the soil through their feathers in an effort to redistribute excess oils. This a way for them to groom themselves; a way to preen their beauitful feathers. So birds invented “dry shampoo”!