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Feeding Time
for a Darter Family
There is one good reason
to paddle a canoe or a stable kayak you can take pictures
of the birdlife from the water.
Have you taken any good
shots of wildlife from the water that may be interesting to
other people?
Pictures taken
opposite Fishmarket Reserve
Three long necked chicks
are excited about feeding time
First in first served
Two at a time. No time
to wait!
As one baby Darter goes
out for a meal the other two sit patiently for their turn.
Photos Terry
Both parents feed them
from six to nine times a day by regurgitating part of their
catch.
Last week I called a Darter a Cormorant
and I was picked up by a bird loving reader. She sent me this
article by nature enthusiast and journalist, Peter Hancock
about the Darter.
Sometimes mistaken for
a cormorant, the darter, or snake bird, is known to the
Noongar as mimmal and, like the Aboriginal people, uses a
"woomera" to launch its sharp spear of a beak at
its prey.
Superbly adapted to underwater hunting,
the darter's head and neck have evolved into a formidable
weapon, with one neck bone much longer that the rest to allow
the bird to strike with great speed and power, literally spearing
its victim on its long sharp bill.
Once impaled, there is no escape, because
reverse striations similar to tiny fish hooks hold the prey
- which can be anything from fish to insects – on the
beak.
In the water the darter swims with only
its small head and long S-shaped neck above the surface and,
instead of diving like a cormorant, it sinks slowly like a
submarine, staying below for up to a minute at a time.
After it has eaten it will perch on
a tree or rock to dry its wings which, like the cormorant's,
are so adapted for diving that they prevent flight while wet.
However when it does get airborne it is an excellent flier,
sometimes seen soaring with ibises or pelicans on thermal
air currents.
Found from Africa to New Guinea, darters
favour lakes, swamps, rivers and estuaries, and occasionally
venture to coastal islands. They breed from August to December,
when the male selects and jealously defends a nesting site,
decorating it with leafy twigs and waving his wings to attract
passing females.
A complex courtship of wing-waving,
neck-rubbing and beak-gaping is followed by mating, after
which the male collects most of the twigs for the nest platform,
which both birds construct in trees that are either overhanging
water or standing in it. Here the female lays three to five
greenish-white eggs, which both parents take shifts to incubate.
When the young hatch both parents feed
them from six to nine times a day by regurgitating part of
their catch.
Did you know?
Birds are very fussy when it comes to
cleanliness.
They all bathe regularly – some
in water and some in dust or sand – and use their beaks
to groom themselves constantly.
They also use their beaks to anoint
their plumage with special oil from a gland situated above
the base of their tail feathers.
Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/skilled-hunter-wins-by-a-neck-20130620-2okbb.html#ixzz2inVgcbdM
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Black-Winged
Stilt
Black-winged Stilt at
the Blackadder Swamp Midland. To get there paddle up Blackadder
Creek near Marshall Park.
There were several other
water birds and top knocked pigeons in the swamp.
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus
himantopus) White with black patch at the nape of the neck
and wings. Long black bill with a red eye. Long pink legs
- when flying the legs trail at the back. Lives in fresh and
saltwater marshes and flooded paddocks.
Blackadder Creek
Blackadder Creek was originally
a natural creek however sections have been modified into a
series of drains. It discharges into the upper Swan Estuary,
upstream of Ray Marshall Park in Midland. Just upstream of
the confluence of Blackadder Creek and the Swan River Estuary
it flows through a small area of floodplain wetlands, the
Blackadder wetlands.
Most of the catchment has been cleared for urban residential
use with very little remnant vegetation remaining. Much of
the bushland that does remain is in poor condition with the
exception of Talbot Brook Reserve, which is regionally significant
and in reasonably good condition. As most of the land adjoining
Blackadder Creek is publicly owned, the implementation of
on-ground works is made easier.
Blackadder Creek and
Swamp
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Birds in love. How romantic!
Near Sandalford Winery
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Have a guess. What are
those round T things along the river bank?
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Wounded Soldiers
on 1000km Kayaking Trek
A GROUP of wounded soldiers
have returned from Afghanistan only to put their bodies back
on the line in a gruelling 1000-kilometre kayaking trek from
Sydney to Brisbane.
The soldiers spent a much-needed rest
day at Shoal Bay yesterday after leaving Darling Harbour on
Saturday for the 21-day journey to Brisbane.
See your ad here
The inaugural Mates4Mates Sea Kayak
Adventure aims to help wounded and ill defence personnel rebuild
their life skills and emotional resilience.
Mates4Mates rehabilitation manager Ricky
Dumigan said friendship was key to motivating the soldiers as
they helped one another during the eight to 10 hours spent each
day on the water.
He said the soldiers explored Shoal
Bay and walked the waterfront to D’albora, to re-enter
the water at 7am today.
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Bayswater Paddlesports
Club Inc.
Welcomes your 2013/2104 Committee
Executive Committee
Club President Stephen Fidge
Vice President Louise Carbone
Secretary Stephen Reynolds
Treasurer Kelvin Shortte
Membership Office Carol Morton
Committee Members Daniel Smee
Liam Doyle
Email bayswater@canoe.org.au
Website www.bayswater.canoe.org.au
Facilities
Easy Parking
Showers on site or near by Toilets
Club Boats
Activity Days Most days there are members paddling at the
club. However Saturdays between 7am and 9am is the busiest
time at the club and a great time to come down and have a
look at the facilities and talk to members.
Open times Contact the club for a time to meet onsite. Saturday
between 7am and 9am is usually a good time to meet members
at the shed. Alternatively we hold an annual Club Open Day
where you can come and try our boats. Timing will be published
on our website.
Other information Please email the club and we will get in
contact with you as soon as possible.
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