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This afternoon, following a torrid interview with a sociologist at
ANU, I took my binoculars and sought peace with the world as I meandered
along Sullivans Creek. A young lady came jogging by and said, "Are you
birdwatching? Look, there're a couple of big eagle birds eating a fish back
there." I thanked her and hurried to investigate as visions of White-bellied
Sea-Eagles danced in my head.
I found a large, decomposing European Carp on the creek bank. The "big
eagle birds" turned out to be a pair of White-faced Herons, and they were having
a right-royal feast of rotting fish. A pair of Dusky Moorhens scampered in and
out between the herons, grabbing morsels of sun-ripened carp.
Be warned, the following is not exactly dining-table talk, but I believe
it's worth reporting. Suddenly, one of the herons vented its bowels. In a flash,
the moorhens raced in and gobbled up the heron's excrement. As they say in the
classics, I ain't never seen the likes. Well, actually, I have witnessed
something similar. On a few occasions, in lambing paddocks, I've seen Australian
Ravens peck a young lamb on its fundament. The lamb bleated, defecated and
bolted, and the ravens supped on its leavings. I apologise to any member of
the chat group who's offended by my scatological report.
John Layton
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