There's a Chinese idiom 鷸蚌相爭，漁人得利. Literally it means "when a snipe and a clam fights, the benefactor is the fisherman."
It's a story about a bird trying to eat the clam but ended up with it's beak clamped shut by the clam and no body was giving ground. It left them both in a vulnerable state and when a fisherman came by he can easily just pick both of them up.
This story was told to a king to convince him not to invade a neighbouring country, leaving them vulnerable to a 3rd kingdom.
I'm sure the egret will come out on top, but I feel that doesn't feel great for the egret right now, so I'm not sure this was an intentional tactic on the bird's part.
I've seen a few talon injuries recently where birds have gotten caught in baited snap traps and the feet have been damaged, so I'm hoping birdy here doesn't get a bad cut/infection out of this or the clam may get the last laugh (gurgle?).
From: https://lemmy.ca/post/64350172
Dr. Adrian Walton has seen some strange things in his career as the owner and lead veterinarian at Dewdney Animal Hospital, but never an "oyster attack."
Now I'm a little more nervous for the bird in the post. I would have thought it would have been able to poke inside and peck out the clam, but this bird got really hurt in the story you shared.
It was sounding like they were trying to save the oyster as well. I wonder if the intent was to try to save that as well and it just didn't make it or what.
Great story though, thanks for sharing! Between these 2 posts and the Chinese parable, bird eating shellfish seem to be a thing! 🤔
8 Comments
RandomStickman@fedia.io · 9 pts · 64d
There's a Chinese idiom 鷸蚌相爭，漁人得利. Literally it means "when a snipe and a clam fights, the benefactor is the fisherman."
It's a story about a bird trying to eat the clam but ended up with it's beak clamped shut by the clam and no body was giving ground. It left them both in a vulnerable state and when a fisherman came by he can easily just pick both of them up.
This story was told to a king to convince him not to invade a neighbouring country, leaving them vulnerable to a 3rd kingdom.
anon6789@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 64d
Oh, I love it!
I went looking for the full tale, but found this beautiful 10 minute short film version from the 80s. The art and music was beautiful.
I enjoyed the clam squirting our antagonistic bird.
JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.social · 6 pts · 64d
Wow, that's truly bothersome when one leg has to hang down when flying.
I wonder what happened afterwards.
anon6789@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 64d
I'm sure the egret will come out on top, but I feel that doesn't feel great for the egret right now, so I'm not sure this was an intentional tactic on the bird's part.
I've seen a few talon injuries recently where birds have gotten caught in baited snap traps and the feet have been damaged, so I'm hoping birdy here doesn't get a bad cut/infection out of this or the clam may get the last laugh (gurgle?).
LimpRimble@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 64d
When oysters 'attack': B.C. team rescues heron from clingy shellfish - CBC British Columbia
anon6789@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 64d
That was a big oyster!
Now I'm a little more nervous for the bird in the post. I would have thought it would have been able to poke inside and peck out the clam, but this bird got really hurt in the story you shared.
It was sounding like they were trying to save the oyster as well. I wonder if the intent was to try to save that as well and it just didn't make it or what.
Great story though, thanks for sharing! Between these 2 posts and the Chinese parable, bird eating shellfish seem to be a thing! 🤔
Zachariah@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 64d
work smarter not harder
anon6789@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 64d
Can't argue with results!