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Watch A Bird Escape A Great White Shark By Pooping In Its Face

Written by Kirstin Harrington
Updated: May 17, 2023
© Alexyz3d/Shutterstock.com
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Key Points

  • Hunting sharks can be alerted more than a mile away by the rapid, erratically pulsed, broadband sounds produced by wounded birds and spawning fish at frequencies below 600 hertz.
  • There aren’t many animals that can get away from great white sharks unscathed.
  • Cormorants have a special way to ward off predators that’s equally comical and impressive.

One of the most feared apex predators in the world is the great white shark. These beasts of the ocean are known for their rows of razor-sharp teeth, beady eyes, and relentless need to kill. Although Hollywood has made a mockery out of these creatures, they did get some things right!

The shark’s hunting method heavily relies on ambush and stealth. Hunting sharks can be alerted more than a mile away by the rapid, erratically pulsed, broadband sounds produced by wounded birds and spawning fish at frequencies below 600 hertz.

These animals eat everything from crustaceans, seals, sea birds, and even other sharks! They’re known for attacking from below, where the prey can’t see them coming. Someone filming with a drone caught an amazing interaction between a great white and his targeted prey. 

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Great White Shark breaching the water
Great white sharks are known for attacking their prey from below.

©Alessandro De Maddalena/Shutterstock.com

In the video, we see a bird known as a cormorant enjoying an afternoon on the water. Fish makes up almost all of the diet of cormorants. They use a wide range of aquatic habitats because they are opportunistic predators rather than specialists. While their diet frequently matches the seasonal availability of food at a specific place, they ingest a wide diversity of fish species. 

These birds are known as being quite a nuisance. Through rivalry for nesting sites and the vegetation around those sites, cormorants have a negative influence on fish species and other bird species. 

The cormorant’s detrimental socioeconomic influence comes in second. The cormorant obstructs commercial fisheries, aquaculture businesses, fish-related industries, and water quality.

A Unique Defense Mechanism

Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) eating carp fish
The cormorant is an opportunistic predator that primarily eats fish.

©iStock.com/CreativeNature_nl

You see, these aren’t like any other sea birds and this great white shark learns that the hard way. Cormorants have a special way to ward off predators that’s equally comical and impressive.

There aren’t many animals that can get away from great white sharks unscathed. This bird notices the shark coming closer and closer and decides that it’s time to go to the bathroom. As soon as the murky, white guano begins dispersing, we can quickly see the shark changing directions. 

He swims away from the bird and alas, the cormorant is left to swim in peace. The footage below is lengthy and the interaction between the two animals starts around the 5-minute mark. 

Check Out The Footage Below!

Other Amazing Animal Videos You Might Like

It’s very rare that any animal manages to outwit and survive a potential attack by a great white shark like the cormorant, but we’ve found a second video that shows another lucky escape!

In this YouTube Short, the shark has its sights set on prey that has no idea it’s being stalked — and it’s not only a human, it’s a child on a boogie board.

It’s an alarming sight to see the great white following behind the child, coming within inches of the boogie board before it turns away and swims off. Fortunately, the shark is a juvenile so it seems that it is merely curious and does not pose a threat to the child. As our article on the video explains, there is a longer video that gives more context to this short clip that shows the child was surrounded by other people in the water and not in danger. Regardless, it is uncommon to see a great white shark leave potential prey alone, making this rare and fascinating footage.

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The Featured Image

great white shark leaping out of water
Great white sharks are concentrated mostly in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, the Northeastern Pacific, and the North Atlantic.
© Alexyz3d/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

When she's not busy playing with her several guinea pigs or her cat Finlay Kirstin is writing articles to help other pet owners. She's also a REALTOR® in the Twin Cities and is passionate about social justice. There's nothing that beats a rainy day with a warm cup of tea and Frank Sinatra on vinyl for this millennial.

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