In this section we will see how some of the animals on the poster protect themselves from predators, and how they compete with one another for territory.

• Some butterflies like the Common Opal have a mutualistic relationship with ants.
• Caterpillars of the Common Opal (and related butterflies) have a gland on the back that produces a sweet liquid like honey.
• Cocktail Ants (Crematogaster peringueyi.)like to drink this honey so much that they protect the small caterpillars.
• The ants build papery shelters for the Common Opal caterpillars near the base of their food plants (e.g. Bietou). The caterpillars stay in these shelters during the day and come out to feed at night. The ants stay with the caterpillars and protect them from parasitic wasps.
• Common Opal caterpillars pupate in these shelters. The pupae also produce honey so that the ants continue to look after them until they turn into butterflies.
• Common Opal butterflies have beautiful shiny opal-blue markings on the top surfaces of their wings but the undersides of the wings are brown. When they rest, they close their wings and are very hard to see. This camouflage protects them from predators.

• When they are not breeding, male and female Malachite Sunbirds look very similar; both are dull grey in colour.
• In preparation for breeding, males lose their grey feathers and grow showy breeding plumage of metallic dark green feathers and long central tail feathers to attract a mate.
• Their behaviour becomes territorial. The male patrols an area around the place where the female builds their nest. It sits high up in trees and chirps loudly, flies around showing off its bright colours and long tail feathers, and displays bright yellow tufts of feathers between its wings and chest. This advertises its territory and warns other sunbirds to stay away.
• If other sunbirds enter its territory, it aggressively chases them away.
• The female sunbird incubates the eggs. Its dull colour is a good camouflage while it sits on the nest.
• Unlike the Malachite Sunbird, male Southern Double-Collared Sunbirds are always brightly coloured.

• Crowned Lapwings or Kiewiets are common birds on playing fields. They lay their eggs on the ground in a shallow scrape lined with stones and plant material. The chicks can run around as soon as they hatch.
• The parents are very aggressive while they have eggs or young in the nest. They will dive-bomb anyone who comes too close to the nest or the chicks, screaming noisily.
• Many ducks like the Yellow-Billed Duck pretend to be injured if a predator approaches their nest. They attract the predator’s attention and move away from the nest, pretending that their wing is broken and that they cannot fly.
• They try to get the predator to chase them. Once it does, they lead it a safe distance from the nest before flying away.

• Small bush birds are vulnerable to attack by predators ranging from snakes and sparrow-hawks to domestic cats.
• Because birds can fly, their predators need to sneak up on them and attack once they are within striking distance. They are usually well camouflaged and move stealthily .
• While feeding, small birds often move through the bush in mixed groups of various species, like prinias, white-eyes and sunbirds. These groups are called bird parties.
• Any bird that spots a predator immediately alerts the other birds to its presence by boldly scolding the potential attacker. The other birds join in and the predator is exposed. Being unable to launch a surprise attack, the predator usually gives up.
• If you hear a group of small birds making scolding noises, see if you can find out what they have observed. They may alert you to a snake or a bird of prey.