Here’s another one. During periods of heightened
hormonal activity, an aggressive wading bird will occasionally be seen to
‘duck’ another one. Here the aggressor – and victim
- is a Pied Oystercatcher. For the benefit of any children watching
I am happy to say that Mr Loser quickly recovered, and was no worse for the
experience, but Mr Macho was not invited to his birthday party.
The next example is of poor graphic quality, but should give
the idea. It dates from a time when Red-kneed Dotterels were more
abundant at Kelly
Swamp than they are at
the moment. What these birds were about I am unable to say. Perhaps
it was a selection test: if the lower bird could have held its
breath, mating might have ensued. Or perhaps the upper bird thought that
was all there was to it.
