Great Blue Heron
Looking for Lunch
Michelle could hardly believe her eyes! Lucky for us she grabbed her camera. This Great Blue Heron decided to rest on the roof of Michelle’s garage in the Bonnie Doon area. These mighty birds are very smart and very patient fishermen. They eat small fish, amphibians and small mammals. I guess Michelle’s dog Mimi was very excited at the Heron happening, too!
Michelle tells us this beautiful bird was eye-balling the fish in their water garden — and I believe it!
DID YOU KNOW? The Great Blue Heron has its fishing technique down to a science. It stands very very still — neck extended at an angle of about 45 degrees to the water’s surface,..only moving its head and eyes. If nothing happens after a few minutes, the heron slowly moves a few feet away and stands and waits – exactly the same positioning. When a potential meal comes close, the heron slowly folds its neck back and moves one leg in the direction of the prey. Suddenly, its entire body straightens and plunges its head into the water. Caught! With the fighting fish in its bill, it moves its head back — dropping lunch headfirst into the gullet.
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