Both Anhinga parents participate in the feeding of their young. The adult feed their young the small fish which they have caught by swimming underwater. If I have understood things correctly, enzymes are required to digest these fish, but the young do not have the enzymes in their system. They have to get the fish and the enzymes from their parents. This is how they do it ...
Yep, the youngest sticks its head and neck down the throat of its parent to get its enzyme ladden fish out of its parent's stomach. It's no wonder that mom looks so happy when the feeding is done ...
That's why I find the Anhinga to be one weird bird. But watching all of this certainly provided some moments of good birding!
Yes kind of weird, you're right... but as you said the sequence is simply splendid and might have been a good birding time!
ReplyDelete...amazing shots, Chris, and what a way to eat. I had no idea. I always learn something when I come to your blog!
ReplyDeleteOOh--looks like the young one's head is getting swallowed. What great shots--thanks for posting about this interesting bird.
ReplyDeleteTerrific photos, Chris. You had a wonderful vantage point to get all the action of the feeding. Don't you love the silver pattern on the adult anhinga wings?
ReplyDeletecheers,
Wilma