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Re: Heron behavior
- To: Wayne Forsythe <wforsythe@a-o.com>, carolinabirds@duke.edu (CAROLINA BIRDS)
- Subject: Re: Heron behavior
- From: BILL HILTON JR Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History<hilton@hiltonpond.org>
- Date: Sat, 06 Jan 2001 21:23:34 -0500
- In-reply-to: <000501c07848$9e4e8ba0$16268acd@ioa.com>
- References: <000501c07848$9e4e8ba0$16268acd@ioa.com>
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
>Folks,
> Bob Olthoff, Marilyn Mestphal, and I birded Henderson County today.
>On 4 seasons Marsh in Hendersonville, which is about 98% frozen, we found a
>Great Blue Heron. This is not at all unusual, but this bird was sitting on
>the ground in the snow of the frozen marsh area. A quick glance at a
>distance, the bird almost looked like a goose or loon sitting on the ground.
>The 3 of us all agreed, that in our combined years of birding, we have
>never seen a Great Blue sitting on the ground with its legs tucked under
>it's body in this manner. The bird appeared to be alert, and healthy. I
>will check again tomorrow to be sure it is not injured.
> Any comments about this behavior would be welcome.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Wayne
>Wayne K. Forsythe
>245 Stonebrook Drive
>Hendersonville, N.C. 28791
>wforsythe@a-o.com
>828-697-6628
*******
WAYNE . . .
I've seen this behavior occasionally in Great Blue Herons, and always
in cold weather. The legs of a heron have a lot of surface area, and
since they're unfeathered they radiate lots of heat. It's certainly
been cold enough in the Carolinas for the past few weeks to warrant
tucking in one's legs. :-)
Happy Birding,
BILL
--
**********
BILL HILTON JR., "The Piedmont Naturalist"
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
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Please visit our websites:
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watch the sunset."
BHjr.
**********