01/08/2026
One of the most incredible bird behaviour experiences on my Channel Country tour in May was watching Straw-necked Ibis catching fish.
The real drama was the competition that followed. Other ibis would rush in to steal a successful catch, while Black Kites would swoop down, talons blazing, trying to sn**ch the fish for themselves.
If an ibis took to the air to escape the mob on the ground, it would quickly drop its prey, rather than risk tangling with the Black Kites’ incredible aerial agility.
If they did take flight it all happened in a blur and I rarely saw the fish being dropped with my eyes, so my only hope was to point in the right direction and hold the shutter down! And of course make sure I had the fastest shutter speed possible - in this case 1/4000th.
What’s the most chaotic bird behaviour you’ve ever witnessed?
