BTW,
>would you like to venture a guess why the heron's face is white?
Jim,
Sorry, I have been out of computer reach these past days. Like Anne Green,
I first favoured the notion that the broken colours of the face make it
hard for prey to discern a predator from below the waterline. However, I
can also come up with counter-arguments to this:
For instance, if this is in fact a plausible theory,
1. why do more birds, which hunt in this manner, not have broken
colours? e.g. the Jabiru must pose a clearly discernible outline from
within the water.
2. why is the neck coloured in unbroken grey, when the bird would be
better off with total camoflage? Why camoflage one part, when the neck -
and body - would be so obvious?
Already I can think of counter-arguments to my counter arguments (like some
species becoming more successful food gatherers than others, as a result of
their camoflage, leading to greater breeding success). However, I sometimes
have my doubts about reasons attributed to why birds have certain features.
What do YOU think?
Cheers,
jill
Jill Dening
Sunshine Coast, Qld
26º 51' 152º 56'
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