コアジサシ家族の朝食
コアジサシ3家族が巣立ったヒナたちを連れて砂浜にやってきました。ヒナの数は12羽。親鳥たちは、食欲旺盛な子どもたちのために海に出ては小さな魚を捕まえてきます。
ヒナ同士の餌の奪い合いも日に日に激しさを増し、親鳥は、一度あげるふりをして海上に誘い出し、最後までついてきたヒナたちに餌を与えたりしていました。
A Little Tern bringing in a small mullet.
Two chicks fighting over the food.
Once you get the food, run before someone steals it!!
The chick that ran off with the food skilfully swallows it whole while still flying in mid-air.
Fish after fish kept coming in.
Passing in front of the chicks with the food still in its bill.
Just as the chicks rush over, the parent takes off with the food still in its bill.
The chicks chasing the parent bird carrying the food.
Wings, tail feathers, and bill are all shorter than the parent's — it looks one size smaller overall.
The chick can now keep up with the parent's sharp turns. It also hovers and mimics hunting.
Being begged for food by a chick that isn't its own, it lowers its head in warning. Squabbles between adults and between chicks from different families are constant. ^^;
Full belly, so an early nap.