I am still sorting old pics and found this series of pics of a fish exchange between 2 Crested Terns and thought that it was interesting
please excuse some of the pics as they are blurred
and a final pic from a different series
taken at Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW in Feb '12
That looks suspiciously like courting behaviour to me - the equivalent of flowers & chocolates.
Yeah, it does, doesn't it, Woko? It reminds me of some bird species (I might be imagining it or I've been watching too much tv) that offer rocks to a potential mate. I'm thinking penguin species here. But I think some species do offer food as a way to please a potential mate, to make the potential mate choose him/her.
I absolutely love the expression on the bird without the fish in the 3rd to last photo. Couldn't help myself - your photos need captions. Here's my version of captions.
1. He says: Look what I got you. She says: Is that for me?
2. She says: I feel so proud of you.
3. He says: Are you going to take the fish? She says: I'm thinking about it.
4. She says: Okay, I'll take the fish.
5. She says: Wait, what's that on your beak?
6. He says: I don't know what you're talking about. Take the bloody fish already.
7. She says: Alright. Stop nagging me. I'll take the fish.
8. She says: Oh, just wait. This fish is really slippery.
9. He says: Thank goodness she took the fish. She says: Oh my. This fish is really heavy.
10.She says: I think I need to sit down for this one.
11.She says: Seriously? What do you want me to do with this fish? He says: Give it back to me.
12. She says: But I just sat down. Now you want me to get up, too?
13. Silence.
14. Awkward silence.
15. She says: Here. Take your darned fish. I didn't like it anyway.
16. He says: Can never please that woman. Maybe junior might like it.
17. He says: Hey, who invited your mother?
Just for laughs!
I'm at Tenterfield, NSW. (Formerly known as "Hyperbirds".)
Very funny Hyperbirds, made me laugh.