Dipping and diving
Dippers are one of the few birds able to dive to the river bed.
Simon King watches dippers in Wales. They are quite shy so not often seen. They feed on aquatic insects such as caddis fly larvae on the river bed – one of the few birds that can dive in this way. But these dippers have also been catching fish which is quite unusual. Simon looks at the types of insect life found in the river - all signs of clean water. Slow motion footage shows how these buoyant birds face into the water flow and dive underwater. The fact that the dippers are not immediately eating their prey, but flying off with it shows that they are nesting. How do dippers cram so many insects in their beaks without dropping them? They wedge them in the back of their mouth and probably hold them in with their tongue. Why do they dip? No one is quite sure, but perhaps it is to help navigate and spot fixed points in their field of view, or to help see into the water, or to advertise to other dippers. The clip ends with a montage put together by the Springwatch editors who think the dipper just has a very good sense of rhythm.
Duration:
This clip is from
Featured in...
³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Nature
Be captivated, informed and inspired by the world's wildlife.
More clips from Episode 6
-
Idyllic countryside
Duration: 03:26
-
Badger antics
Duration: 01:27
-
Badger challenge
Duration: 02:19
-
Lake Vyrnwy life
Duration: 01:04
More clips from Springwatch
-
Hannah Stitfall discovers RSPB Arne's reptiles
Duration: 02:53
-
Hannah Stitfall goes behind the scenes on Springwatch
Duration: 01:18
-
Enjoy the calmness of a kelp forest
Duration: 01:11