Anting in Business: Learning's from a Bird's Way of Being a Boss

Have you ever seen a bird rubbing ants on its feathers or lying on an anthill with its wings spread?

If you have, you might have witnessed a bizarre but fascinating behavior called anting. Anting is when birds use ants, or sometimes other insects or substances, to groom themselves.

But why do they do it?

And what can we learn from them as business leaders and entrepreneurs?

What is anting and how do birds do it?

Anting is a maintenance behavior that involves birds rubbing insects, usually ants, on their feathers and skin. The bird may pick up the insects in its bill and rub them on the body (active anting), or the bird may lie in an area of high density of the insects and perform dust bathing-like movements (passive anting).

The insects secrete liquids containing chemicals such as formic acid, which can act as an insecticide, miticide, fungicide, or bactericide. Alternatively, anting could make the insects edible by removing the distasteful acid, or possibly supplement the bird's own preen oil. Instead of ants, birds can also use millipedes, snails, grasshoppers, amphipods and even larvae.

Anting can last anywhere from just several minutes to half an hour. Most species of birds practice anting individually or in small groups.

Why do birds ant and what are the benefits?

The exact reason why birds ant is still a mystery to scientists. There are several hypotheses, but none of them have been conclusively proven. Some of the possible benefits of anting are:

●????To get rid of parasites, bacteria and fungi that may harm the bird's health or damage its feathers.

●????To soothe irritated skin or feather follicles, especially during molting season.

●????To enhance the waterproofing and insulation properties of the feathers by adding ant secretions or preen oil.

●????To alter the bird's scent or taste to avoid predators or attract mates.

●????To enjoy a pleasant sensation or a recreational activity.

Whatever the reason, anting seems to be a beneficial behavior for birds that helps them maintain their physical and mental well-being.

What can we learn from anting as business leaders and entrepreneurs?

Anting may seem like a weird and quirky behavior, but it can also teach us some valuable lessons as business leaders and entrepreneurs. Here are some of them:

●?Be adaptable and resourceful : Birds use whatever insects or substances they can find to ant. They don't limit themselves to one type or source. They also adjust their anting technique depending on the situation. As business leaders and entrepreneurs, we need to be adaptable and resourceful too. We need to use whatever tools, skills or opportunities we have at our disposal to achieve our goals. We also need to be flexible and creative in finding solutions to different challenges.

●?Be proactive and preventive : Birds don't wait until they have a problem to ant. They do it regularly as part of their grooming routine. They prevent potential issues by keeping their feathers and skin in good condition. As business leaders and entrepreneurs, we need to be proactive and preventive too. We need to anticipate potential risks and take measures to avoid or mitigate them. We also need to invest in our own health and well-being by taking care of ourselves physically and mentally.

●?Be curious and experimental : Birds don't know for sure why they ant, but they do it anyway. They try different things and see what works for them. They may even enjoy the process of anting as a fun activity. As business leaders and entrepreneurs, we need to be curious and experimental too. We need to explore new ideas and possibilities and test them out in the real world. We also need to have a positive attitude and a sense of humor when facing uncertainty or failure.

Anting is a fascinating behavior that shows how birds take care of themselves using ants or other insects or substances. It may have multiple benefits for the birds' health, appearance and mood.

Anting can also inspire us as business leaders and entrepreneurs to be adaptable, proactive and curious in our own endeavors.

So next time you see a bird rubbing ants on its feathers or lying on an anthill with its wings spread,

don't think it's crazy or stupid.

Think it's being a boss.....