Known predators...from: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ardea_herodias.html
* crows and ravens
* common raven
* eagles
* raccoons
* bears
* turkey vulture
* red-tailed hawks
My goodness, but all of these are possible for our Herons...I don't think the bears have been on the Lower Lake side of the creek in this area, but they have certainly been in the vineyard just across the creek!
Showing posts with label Ardea herodias. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ardea herodias. Show all posts
Monday, February 9, 2009
Another Walk, Another Heron
Food Habits of Ardea herodias from: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Ardea_herodias.html
Great blue herons fish in both the night and the day, with most of their activity occurring around dawn and dusk. Herons use their long legs to wade in shallow water and their sharp "spearlike" bills to catch their food. Great blue herons' diet consists of mainly fish, but also includes frogs, salamanders, lizards, snakes, birds, small mammals, shrimps, crabs, crayfish , dragonflies, grasshoppers, and many other aquatic insects. Herons locate their food by sight and usually swallow it whole. Herons have been known to choke on prey that is too large. (Ferguson, 1998)
My Heron was back in the field again today...he is so tall that he really stand out once you know what to look for. Today he let me get quite a bit closer before flying across the field, very low, to land on the west side. According to the article quoted above, they so their fishing early and late in the day, so I am not really sure what this fellow is up to out in the field, but I am guessing little frogs though I haven't seen or heard any.
Great blue herons fish in both the night and the day, with most of their activity occurring around dawn and dusk. Herons use their long legs to wade in shallow water and their sharp "spearlike" bills to catch their food. Great blue herons' diet consists of mainly fish, but also includes frogs, salamanders, lizards, snakes, birds, small mammals, shrimps, crabs, crayfish , dragonflies, grasshoppers, and many other aquatic insects. Herons locate their food by sight and usually swallow it whole. Herons have been known to choke on prey that is too large. (Ferguson, 1998)
My Heron was back in the field again today...he is so tall that he really stand out once you know what to look for. Today he let me get quite a bit closer before flying across the field, very low, to land on the west side. According to the article quoted above, they so their fishing early and late in the day, so I am not really sure what this fellow is up to out in the field, but I am guessing little frogs though I haven't seen or heard any.
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