On the rugged Kimberley coastline, only the toughest survive. Australasian Darters are no exception. With their elongated necks and long spear like beaks, they hunt these waters with skill and precision. A unique hinge like mechanism on the 8th and 9th vertebrae acts like a trigger, enabling lightening fast strike speeds and surprising success rates. Despite spending their lives mostly underwater, they lack the waterproof feathers of some other waterbirds, resulting in long periods of time spent sitting on a rock or log with outstretched wings in preparation for the next flight.
On the rugged Kimberley coastline, only the toughest survive. Australasian Darters are no exception. With their elongated necks and long spear like beaks, they hunt these waters with skill and precision. A unique hinge like mechanism on the 8th and 9th vertebrae acts like a trigger, enabling lightening fast strike speeds and surprising success rates. Despite spending their lives mostly underwater, they lack the waterproof feathers of some other waterbirds, resulting in long periods of time spent sitting on a rock or log with outstretched wings in preparation for the next flight.
