Comb Crested Jacana
Taken at Sandy Camp Rd Wetlands, Lytton, Qld.
Aka Lilly Trotter or Lotusbird - the Jacana has adapted to walking on floating Lilly leaves by virtue of enormously elongated feet which spread the birds (albeit light) weight over a wide surface area. Found in tropical and subtropical freshwater wetlands, including lagoons, billabongs, swamps, lakes, rivers, sewage ponds and dams, providing there is adequate floating vegetation.
The biggest threat to survival occurs at the egg stage. The hatching rate is very low with many eggs being lost (mainly to predators). Breeding success is enhanced by the female laying several small eggs (rather than fewer, larger ones) and by females having several mates incubating clutches of their eggs. Females abandon their partner after laying eggs. The male will incubate the eggs and keep a watchful eye on the chicks. If dad senses a threat, he picks the chicks up under his specially adapted wings and carries them off to safety. So, unusually for a bird, it is the male alone that incubates the eggs although the female does help to defend the territory. Larger females produce somewhat larger eggs, improving success if the eggs survive predation.
Comb Crested Jacana
Taken at Sandy Camp Rd Wetlands, Lytton, Qld.
Aka Lilly Trotter or Lotusbird - the Jacana has adapted to walking on floating Lilly leaves by virtue of enormously elongated feet which spread the birds (albeit light) weight over a wide surface area. Found in tropical and subtropical freshwater wetlands, including lagoons, billabongs, swamps, lakes, rivers, sewage ponds and dams, providing there is adequate floating vegetation.
The biggest threat to survival occurs at the egg stage. The hatching rate is very low with many eggs being lost (mainly to predators). Breeding success is enhanced by the female laying several small eggs (rather than fewer, larger ones) and by females having several mates incubating clutches of their eggs. Females abandon their partner after laying eggs. The male will incubate the eggs and keep a watchful eye on the chicks. If dad senses a threat, he picks the chicks up under his specially adapted wings and carries them off to safety. So, unusually for a bird, it is the male alone that incubates the eggs although the female does help to defend the territory. Larger females produce somewhat larger eggs, improving success if the eggs survive predation.