Large prey

[Suzanne EDGAR <>]

Gt pic, Christine; poor little dragon!

Sz

 

From: Christine [
Sent: Wednesday, 20 February 2019 8:57 PM
To: Wallaces <>
Cc: Canberra birds <>
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Large prey

 

Firstly, fantastic videos Steve!

 

Secondly, I attach a photo from the Botanic Gardens last week. Yes the dragon was gobbled whole, tail still swishing desperately.

 

There is a story about a Kookaburra and a Lewin's Honeyeater, but you will need to ask Peter Marsack about that one...

 

Lastly, one of the funniest things I have witnessed while bird watching was a Superb Fairywren eating a decent sized caterpillar whole. It "swallowed" it, but it did not completely fit, and the Fairywren was walking around in circles,  head up, mouth open and the tail of the caterpillar visible in it's beak....

 

Christine.

 

On Wed, Feb 20, 2019 at 4:44 PM Wallaces <> wrote:

  Sometimes birds take prey that seems too large for them to eat. Attached
photo shows a weather loach held by an ibis and a Baillon's Crake with
something I cannot identify. The ibis swallowed the weather loach while it
was still alive (see https://www.hbw.com/ibc/1562747  ). The crake ran into
the cover so I don't know if it ate its catch (see
https://www.hbw.com/ibc/1562929 ).

Large yabby's are also eaten by White-necked Heron (see
https://www.hbw.com/ibc/1194105 ).

I know that there are photos of pelicans with very large prey but I thought
I would see if people have photos/observations of other species with very
large or unusual prey.

Steve