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Hi everybody,
For those of you that attended this mornings Birds
WA outing to the North Mole in Freo, you will already know about the amazing
observation we made today. Just thought I'd get in first .... If anyone can
elaborate or tell the story better than I please feel free!
Two (2) Great Southern Petrel came to rest on water
off the southern rocks of the North Mole near the lighthouse. A Crested Tern
seemed to be on trouble on the water nearby, being unable to take flight.
Somebody later told me that fishing line was seen on the bird. One of the
Petrels siezed the opertunity and swooped down on the tern. The Petrel held the
tern under the water to drown it, this was about 5 minutes. While one Petrel
held the tern under water the second Petrel started to pluck feathers from the
terns body. The second Petrel then tried to take the tern and ended up in
a wrestling match with the first Petrel. During this time the tern was
released. It (the tern) floated to the surface where it gave a few last
feeble attempts of life and then died. The winning Petrel took the tern's body
out further from the rocks (50m) where it proceeded to consume it. During it's
meal it was interrupted several times by the second Petrel whereby an argument
and fight would ensue before getting back to it's meal.
Like I said if someone else has more info please
add it .. this is just the parts that I saw. Also thanks for the great walks
this morning guys! I added two newies to my list (the petrels and the plovers).
Especially thanks to Les Harris for driving me around!
I have photos and will add them to Birds of Perth
for all to see when I get them developed. Also will post the photos of the
"white" Willie Wagtail and the "pied" Eurasian Coot seen in
Subiaco.
- Claire Stevenson
North Mole Fremantle
Australian Shelduck, Pied
Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Darter, Australasian Gannet, Crested Tern,
Caspian Tern, Giant Skua, Silver Gull.
Woodman
Point
Ruddy Turnstone(1),
Willie Wagtail, Rufous Night-heron, A. Magpie, Singing Honeyeater, Nankeen
Kestrel, Laughing Turtle-dove,
Australian Shelduck, Pied
Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Darter, Australaisain Gannet, Crested Tern,
Caspian Tern, Giant Skua, Silver Gull, Pied Oystercatcher, Red-capped
Plover, White-browed Scrub-wren (heard not seen)
and a Southern Brown Bandicoot.
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