I had the above in my scope on Saturday from Powells Lane, Richmond, NSW.
The birds were feeding in shallow water within 1m of an isolated, small but
solid clump of reeds. Something alarmed them and they both reacted in exactly
the same way and as if in unison. I might have expected them to simply run for
cover and disappear into the main reed bed which was only about 3m away but
they lifted their tails, lowered their heads, turned and backed up against the
reeds where they remained within 30cm of each other for some minutes, alert but
motionless. Perhaps, in part, this reaction was related to their dependence on
their particularly cryptic plumage?
Apparently there isn't much in HANZAB about APS behaviour. I am wondering if
this quite specific reaction to perceived danger is innate within this species
and/or has it been observed in other species?
Bob
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