birding-aus Swamp Harrier prey

[Dr Richard Nowotny <>]

birding-aus

>Another interesting observation in the same area was a pair of first year
>Swamp Harriers disturbed with a Pied Cormorant carcase (more than half
>consumed) right at the road edge - road kill??.  A mature Swamp Harrier was
>a few metres away in the adjacent paddock.  Perhaps a parent educating the
>juveniles in food opportunism??
>
>Regards,  Bob Cook


On the unsealed road to Kirk Point at Werribee (Vic) last Saturday David
Morrison (a visiting overseas birder) and I saw a mature Swamp Harrier
eating a fully-grown rabbit which it tried unsuccessfully to fly off with
at our approach.  A kill?  HANZAB reports:  "FOOD   Take small mammals, up
to size of adult hare, rabbits, birds and eggs, large insects, frogs, fish
and reptiles."  A Pied Cormorant???
Richard

            _____________________
From:    Dr Richard Nowotny,
             Melbourne, Australia.
             Tel. (w) 61-3-9214.1420
             <>
            _____________________

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