Weird behaviour on the face of it

Birds get awfully uncomfortable
Sometimes in the wild
Itchy and scratchy
And acting like a child
They may settle on an ants nest
And let the ants climb
Up over their bodies
It’s called Anting
And with time
Ants give off Formic acid
A sort of insecticide
Deterring and relieving
The birds decide
This actual course of action
Some comfort the outcome
A sort of insect dust bath
The ants just give them some
Action crows just love it
Crows often preen
A ritual of perception
Romantically I mean