Unique Symbiosis at Isola della Cona
When you visit the Isola Della Cona Nature Reserve one of the trade-mark views are those with the Camargue horses (Equus ferus caballus) with Cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) riding on them. ;)
Though Cattle egrets forage similarly to other wading birds, by catching fish or frogs, they can be seen also following the Camargue horses herd, to eat insects on the ground that are stirred by their hoofs. In addition, they literally inspect the horses to find different bugs such as horse flies, horn flies and other annoying insects/ticks and eat them. This way Cattle egrets rid the horses’ grazing area of many pests.
Check the images below showing several moments from a unique symbiosis between the Cattle egrets and Camargue horses.
All images © 2017-2019 Sreco Tzar. All rights reserved.