It is time to check on what is happening at Port Lincoln. Too soon these three fabulous males will fledge and oh, how we will miss their antics! Friendly banter amongst brothers.
Mum brought her boys a bit of a puzzle at 12:51:46. It was a Puffer Fish and she just let them go at it while she stood and watched each of the deal with this strange object.
Puffer fish belong to the Tetraodontidae family. They are known by various names including blowfish, balloon fish, toadfish, globefish, bubble fish, and puffers. They carry a toxic poison – tetrodotoxin. It is one of the deadliest poisons found in the natural world. They are considered to be the second most poisonous creature in the world. These fish can live up to ten years and are found in tropical and subtropical oceans. Some species (there are 120) also live in fresh water. The puffers inhale air. This turns them into sphere. They also have poisonous spikes to try and keep from being eaten by larger fish. You can see those clearly in the image above. Their skin is also said to be extremely thick making it difficult for any predator to eat them. So why did the Mum bring the three boys a puffer fish? Was it a lesson?
I broke the event into two segments for you:
In the end, the lads left the ‘white football’ on the nest. You can see it on the left.
Ervie aka Little Bob could not stand to see the fish just go bad on the nest. The two other siblings didn’t seem to want anything to do with it so at 13:34:31, Ervie goes over and pulls the now mostly deflated fish over to the rim of the nest.
Ervie tries hard to eat that thick skinned fish.
Ten minutes later, Ervie has caught the attention of one of his siblings. In the end, Ervie lets his brother have a ‘go’ at the impossible fish. That is very unlike Little Bob. It must have been a struggle.
A half hour later the fish was abandoned again. It is lying on its side in the image below.
And it remains there. Possible lesson: Don’t ever waste your time catching a puffer fish, sons!
Thank you so much for joining me. I hope that the three lads at Port Lincoln bring a smile to your face. They do mine. But before I close, we can all use some sunshine – Yurruga style. Oh, my. She reminds me of her brother, Izzi, so much. She is soooooo loud!
Take care everyone. See you soon!
Thank you to the streaming cam of the Port Lincoln Osprey Project where I took my video captures and screen shots.
Thank you Mary Ann on the lesson of the puffer fish! Is it not poison for the 3 ospreys?
I hope it isn’t 🙏💕💕💕
Yurruga is loud and strong. Hopefully no infected pigeons will be brought in there 🙏💕
I guess I just worry too much!
Take care and have a great day!
Linda
Hi Linda. You are welcome. It was fun to watch them interact with the puffer fish but your concern is very accurate. Some species of puffer fish can be very deadly even after they are dead. I am not clear as to the issues related to the species that was given the chicks but I know in some places individuals need special licenses to catch the fish and everyone should be careful. My son was injured by one once. — Pigeons. They carry infection and in some places people put rodenticide on top of their buildings to kill them. Of course, they are then targets for all the raptors who then get secondary poisoning. I wish they were outlawed. Thank you. I hope your day is a good one. We have much snow to clear and will have to do it in spurts.
Thanks Mary Ann! I hope little Ervie or either of the 3 don’t get sick from the puffer fish 🙏💕💕💕
I wish the pigeons didn’t carry an infection. It’s sad to see this happening.
Thanks Mary Ann and I bet the snow is very pretty! Don’t work too hard.
Take care!
Linda
Me, too, Linda. I must go and check and see what happened with that fish and I want to ask my son how long the poison lingers. Perhaps that particular species is not poisonous but so many are. Oh, the pigeons. Yes, the disease and then people putting rodenticide on top of the buildings to kill them goes straight to the little hawks and falcons. I wish they would just leave the rodent problem up to the raptors. Thank you. I am finished. Several short trips to clear up the feeders. Staying inside! Oh, I wish this would melt. We need the moisture. It has been a drought but it is such a shock when it comes.