First observation of a Brolga Antigone rubicunda preying on eggs and of ‘water-kicking’ behaviour by Australasian Grebes Tachybaptus novaehollandiae as a nest-defence
Helen I. Dunne, Elinor C. Scambler
pp. 119-123
Abstract
We report a novel observation of Australian waterbird behaviour: a Brolga Antigone rubicunda preying on eggs of the Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaeholliandiae, the first record of birds’ eggs in the diet of a crane in Australia. We also report ‘water-kicking’ by the Australasian Grebe, the first record of this anti-predator behaviour in the species. Neither Brolga diet nor display behaviours of the Australasian Grebe have been systematically investigated, and we suggest avenues for further studies of egg predation and parental defence behaviours in waterbird breeding wetlands.
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