Great questions of bird behaviour #37

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Was that an Australian Pelican? Although it may not make a lot of difference. HANZAB describes them eating mainly fish but also "anything from insects and small crustaceans to ducks and small dogs". Including herding ducklings and young Silver Gulls and even taking adult Silver Gull, similar to how Denis says. Admittedly Pectoral Sandpipers or indeed any wader is not mentioned.

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Denis Wilson [
Sent: Saturday, 11 January 2014 10:45 PM
To: Geoffrey Dabb
Cc: COG bird discussions
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Great questions of bird behaviour #37

Geoffrey's  "Great questions of bird behaviour #37" included the question:
"Have any of you ever swallowed one of those little Pectoral Sandpipers accidentally?

Not sure the "accidentally" is appropriate, Geoffrey.

I witnessed a Pelican in St James Park, London, while waddling along, amongst some other birds,.reach out
and deliberately grab and hold a Rock Dove, and then flap noisily and awkwardly to the waters edge, so it could
swallow the bird, with a gulp of water to help it "go down the hatch".

With Pelicans, just about anything is possible, I reckon.

Denis Wilson

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