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a great encounter with a friendly brown booby bird
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date: 8/7/2009
Author:Nick Brennan
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Weather: Patchy clouds
Wind: SE 20-30 knots
Water Temp: 21C
Water Visibility: 20 m
Sea State: Moderate
The divers were amazed by a range of creatures today. They saw a pair of bull rays that were resting on the bottom and had covered their bodies in sand with only their eyes and long whip like tails protruding. Guests saw a giant flowery cod at the severance shipwreck. This big carnivorous fish was stalking around the boat allowing for some great photos. The painted trumpetfish also aroused curiosity. It has an elongated shape and is a carnivorous ambush predator that is bright yellow. It may seem a little weird that a fish that relies on stealth to capture its prey would be so obviously colored. It is interesting to understand though is that a lot of fish actually don’t have the appropriate eyesight to see many yellow wavelengths so it actually serves as quite good camouflage to sneak up on unsuspecting fish. Weird huh?
The glass bottom boat saw loads of fusiliers around second reef. These fish loved the abundance of plankton in the water munching away in the mild current. The turtles were roaming all over second reef and guests took some great photos of them going about their daily business.
At fish feeding guests enjoyed learning about the fish that love to come along every day. Towards the end of the tour guests had a great encounter with a friendly brown booby bird. It showed off its impressive aerial skills swooping and gliding over the fish pool, keenly watching the swarming mass of fish below. Then, as if it were interested in what the guide was saying about the fish, it settled on the beach right next to everybody! It did not mind the attention it received and guests enjoyed looking at its peculiar eyes that are set right on the top of its beak. It was a very charismatic little character that acted more curious in people than they were of it!
In the evening Nick presented some information on Dangerous Marine Creatures found at Lady Elliot Island. The sharks made everybody prick their ears up, but here on Lady Elliot, Nick explained that they are really the least of our worries. The most dangerous animal believe it or not, is the coral. It’s a creature that doesn’t move, but is incredibly sharp if we trip over or have an accident on it so it causes the most injuries. Thankfully these are never very serious and are easily treated with some antiseptic. The presentation aims to educate people that the reef is a place that can be enjoyed without fear or worry if you use common sense. Everybody had a great evening of learning and went away ready to explore the reef again tomorrow.
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brown booby - Sue Hodgkinson
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