The cygnets swimming with one leg on their back is also mentioned on
http://www.zonianlady.com/featuredbird/hello.html (which is talking
about mute swans, not black swans). Pic of some at
http://www.worldofstock.com/closeups/NBI1582.php and at
http://britishwildlifehelpline.com/common%20probs%20birds.html (a
wildlife help site) it says "Swans and geese often float or swim with a
foot lying along their backs. It looks extremely odd but is quite
normal"
Haven't done any reading on platypus for years, but don't they normally
close their eyes anyway and rely on other senses - I think its some sort
of electro-receptor system. According to Australian Museum online info :
"Platypuses only forage under water. It's usually at night, conditions
are often murky, and their eyes and ears are closed ...The bill of the
Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) contains two types of sensory
receptors. There are some 60,000 electroreceptors and about 40,000
mechanoreceptors (or push rods)."
Sandra Henderson
Email:
-----Original Message-----
From: William Compston
Sent: Thursday, 3 August 2006 8:53 AM
To:
Subject: tidbinbilla
Yesterday at the wetlands at Tidbinbilla we saw a pair of swans with 3
cygnets, who were losing their down. The cygnets swam along with one
leg resting on the back, just paddling with the right leg. Has anyone
else seen this behaviour and what would be the reason for it? Dad swan
left the others to keep preparing a new nest.
We also saw a platypus, but the water is murky there and we only got a
glimpse of its back. How does it see where to go, in the murk? I would
have thought that it would prefer clear water.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Compston
8 Wells Gardens
Griffith, ACT 2603
02 6295 3028
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