Posted on 02/24/2019 5:03:20 AM PST by PJ-Comix
Is that a Blue Heron in my backyard? Yeah, I know that at first I thought it was a Stork in the video but finally figured out that it was probably a Heron of some type. But is this a Blue Heron even though it seems mostly gray? As you can tell, I am no ornithologist.
They are very impressive in flight with a large wing span.
Here's a GBH track in a mud flat with a 6" ruler for scale.
Amazing thing is that they present a very narrow silhouette when viewed head on, very effective camouflage when perched in a tree.
About 20 years ago on trek thru deep snow I encountered one fishing in a very narrow shallow creek. As he took flight his wings very nearly spanned the distance between trees on the bank, an awesome sight that made me long for a video camera.
Breeding Colors: Link
Wings folded: Link
Wings raised: Link
With fish (speared between the eyes): Link
Well, I’m planting Irish potatoes next to one pair’s nest box. They’re not happy with me being so close. I keep talking to them, telling them I’ll be done soon. I left and will return before sun down to spread some pine straw over the rows.
I don’t want them to abandon the box. The things I do for wildlife!
Here's a picture I took at the local Riparian Preserve:
>
So the Blue Herons do spearfishing.
Yes. I see them both all the time during the summer on Campobello Island. They’re spectacular.
The birding checklist for Campobello Island does include the Great Blue as the only Heron listed. Little Blue Herons, a much smaller and bluer bird, have been reported occasionally on nearby islands and Nova Scotia according to eBird.
The smaller birds I see on Campobello may be undocumented aliens, but they are definitely non-blue herons, and they are definitely there. Have been for the last five years. Northwest shore. And they look exactly like the OP’s picture. That was a spectacular shot of the Great Blue, BTW.
yep water turkeys and them great big white fish birds. Will decimate a tank
They won’t decimate a cattle tank, maybe a little garden koi pond.
Yeah, yeah I know the laws and obey them like other ranchers that are infested with them.
I live about a block from the LA River. Blue Herons are routine around here. They even come up onto the freeway off ramps by the river.
An update on that Blue Heron. It is still hanging around our lake. I watched it for awhile today hoping to see it spear a fish but all it did was sort of stand still with it’s head over the water but no spearing. That would make for some great video but perhaps I will be able to catch that in the future.
That’s what video was made for! - not some text based website.
I have been keeping my eye out for it because I want to get a video of it feeding on fish or whatever.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.