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Hi Steve,
According to "The Rodents of Australia"
C.H.S. Watts & H.J. Aslin 1981 "-----the water-rat is an active and vigorous
predator". They take fully grown waterbirds such as Coots and have been observed
killing ducks and poultry.
At Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve a few years ago
Water-rats were responsible for killing some of the pinioned ducks and
dragging them into holes in the bank in the waterbird ponds. When the person
responsible for the waterbirds went to inspect a nest box in one of the ponds a
Water-rat erupted out of it and left a blood bath and a dead duck
behind.
Peter
--- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 9:11
PM
Subject: [canberrabirds] Water birds and
rats
At Jerrabomberra Wetlands today the most
interesting thing was a very active Water-rat which seemed to find the best
foraging spots near the not so happy waterbirds. It was hard to tell if
it was actually foraging or following/harassing/chasing the birds
but it certainly kept moving close to the birds and the
birds kept moving away from it.
Steve
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