ML379709201 OBI 130343
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
- Behaviors
- Foraging or eating
Media notes
Feeding behaviour. Remarks: I saw an unusual event today, more than 200 birds in a fish feeding frenzy. They were predominantly Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta garzetta > 200), 7 Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea), and 2 Little Cormorants (Phalacrocorax niger). I could easily have missed a few Intermediate or Great Egrets. The feeding was reminiscent of birds in a feeding frenzy on Alate Termites. This large flock was picking off fish at a very fast rate of the surface of an ex-mining pool that was used for fish farming in a wetlands area. I saw Little Egrets feed on more than 6 fish within 60 seconds and Little Cormorants on 5 per minute. Most Little Egrets were hovering to catch fish with some minor mid-air clashes but some, including the Grey Herons, just floated on the surface and picked off fish with ease. I could not understand why this was happening. I am aware that that this particular pond is rather deep so could not determine why the fish were on the surface. I could even see an occasional fish leaping out of the water. The fish were not being harvested, not being chased and the pond was not being drained to account for easy access. The fish were not dead/poisoned and the large size and open nature of the pond did not allow for oxygen deprivation. There was no fish food or bait on the surface. It had been a very wet night with intermittent rain. I arrived at the site around 7.30am and it was still very grey and blustery, like a UK morning, but this did not explain the phenomena. Judging from the Little Egret beaks, the fish were 4-6 cm in length. I was observing this from the only vantage point, some distance away on a very busy road and hence could only take a short video and some quick images. Video here: https://youtu.be/KJeamkbGNu4 - Amar. Date added to OBI: December 24, 2016.
Collection
Technical information
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