Chambal: Black-bellied Tern & Great Thicknee showdown

[Sharad Sridhar]

It was great fun watching the Black-bellied Tern at Chambal. It was a complete nuisance to every other bird and a croc too!!

 

The tern would hover very close to the target - Egyptian vultures, Grey Heron, Mugger Crocodile, Lesser Whistling Teals, Cormorants and even a surfacing gangetic dolphin -  and then give a  quick peck on the back of the head.

 

This thicknee had already gotten 2 "pecks" on his head and decided to stand up.

 

Made a threatening display as shown in the pic with the tern also hovering (if you look closely). This showdown went on for about 20 seconds and the tern decided to give up. For the next  hour we sat and observed the tern (hoping for it to come close and give me a SHOT!!). The tern stayed well clear of this thicknee pair

 

Chambal, Rajasthan, India March 6th,  2010

 

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