Bird Bathing

Got out today hoping that the fresh air would help relieve the pressure on my blocked sinuses. Then got caught in a blustery shower and regretted it.
A familiar sight then surprised me. With the rain pelting down, a cock blackbird decided to bathe in one of the many puddles. I was surprised because my first response to question the intelligence of a bird that took to a bath in a downpour. Of course, the blackbird was able to better soak itself in this way.
This reminded me of a recent sighting of some bearded reedlings. This too was following a downpour of rain and I first saw two birds that were completely sodden wet such that it they appeared to be barely capable of flight. I assumed that the rain had caused this and that the surrounding reed beds failed to provide adequate shelter. However, I then noticed some other birds of the same species who were completely dry. So, again these particular individuals appear to have chosen to bathe in open water even though the rain would have given them a shower. A further strange thing about these birds is that they have not evolved to fully deal with their environment. Nests are susceptible to flooding and fledglings upon leaving the nest are prone to drowning. Placing their nest above water may prevent predation from some animals and birds, but it also signifies other dangers.