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Australia 2011
Day 9 - 6th August - Kakadu National Park: Sunrise Cruise (Part 2)
We were told about a bird with yellow eyes called the Vanity Bird - because it spent a lot of time looking at its reflection.
Possibly the vanity bird
Kingfisher with green neck
There was an egret which vibrated its legs to stir up crustaceans in the mud to eat.
Crocodile in water
Crocodiles can jump out of the water up to 3/4 of their body length. This one was 3.5-4m, and they can be twice as long. They can eat bats.
Crocodile fishing. Before this video 2 fish flew into the air - fished by the crocodile. And 1 followed after this video.
The boat captain was saying something about a male crocodile chasing a female crocodile and her not moving, and limbs being ripped off and death resulting - but I can't reconstruct the narrative from my notes. In captivity, if a male crocodile doesn't like a female crocodile he keeps her from entering water so she will dry out and die.
Some bird on tree
More crocodile commentary
Open water lillies
Floating crocodile
For a long time (my notes say 15 mins but the timing seems off) nothing happened but when we moved off one crocodile (maybe this one) attacked and pounced on something on the bank.
Walking on Water Lilies 1
Walking on Water Lilies 2
Crocodiles can stalk you, your horse and remember tires. So you need to change where you pitch your tent, wash your dishes and stuff like that.
You can fish in the river but you're not allowed to use bait (this is supposed to prevent the spread of invasive species). Uhh.
Crocodile on bank
Lotus / Sacred Lily
There's a bird which sets fires - it takes a stick with embers and drops it in a spot with food. The aborigines and the national park were arguing about who was setting fires without permission - then they found out it was the bird.
Forest Kingfisher in tree
Forest Kingfisher in tree with fish
Second largest bird of prey in Australia. Closeup:
Birds flying overhead: maple geese
Birds in formation
Crocodile on bank. When the jaws are open it's to cool the brain
Wild horses
Male barramundi change sex at 5.
Crocodile on bank - just out of the water
US alligators are smaller and less aggressive than saltwater crocodiles. So in Florida you can play golf with them around.