Recently, at Sharp Park near Canungra in SEQ, Perth birder Mark Newman I
saw a Platypus and a Little-black Cormorant feeding together in what
appeared to be a cooperative manner. Whilst on the surface they were
side by side with their bodies touching. The Cormorant gently pecked the
Platypus on the tail and repeatedly ducked its head under the water next
to the Platypus's head as if encouraging the Platypus to dive. When they
dived they did so in unison. The Cormorant surfaced on average twice to
the Platypus one but as soon as they were both on the surface the
Cormorant immediately swam to the Platypus, never the other way around.
Both animals were feeding successfully as they always had food in their
mouths when they surfaced. I assume the Cormorant was feeding on
creatures disturbed by the Platypus but I'm sure it wasn't just taking
advantage of the Platypus being there, it was actively encouraging the
Platypus to dive. The Platypus showed no signs of being disturbed by the
Cormorant. Whether or not it dived as a response to the Cormorants
'encouragement' is impossible to say. We watched this behaviour for
about 10-15 minutes. Has anyone else even seen similar behaviour?
Regards,
Barry Davies,
Beechmont SEQ
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