I don't know if local birdwatchers are interested in this kind of continuing
local event, but some might be. Darter nests at all stages can still be
found in those lakeside spots where they have been reported. The feeding
can be quite spectacular, but allow some space so you don't cause the chicks
to evacuate (in either sense). You don't need to go by boat - which might
well be more disturbing to the nesters. The enclosed 2 very low-resolution
frames were taken from video I got during last week. In the first, if you
look carefully, 4 chicks can just be seen. The second shows the
extraordinary distension of the throat by both the adult - in this case a
female - and the fed chick. The bills are evidently far more flexible than
one would expect from their sharp dagger-like appearance. You may wish to
reassure any watching child that the chick is not being swallowed.
Geoffrey Dabb
email :
ph/fax : 02 6295 3449
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